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One of the ultimate aims of agriculturist around the globe is to feed an ever expanding world population where plant diseases especially instances of fungal diseases pose a major threat to yield losses. Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc. is one such important member of the fungal group which has a wide host range of approximately 500 plant species distributed from temperate to tropical regions. Among the susceptible host, Cicer arietinum is also attacked by the pathogen causing collar rot disease. Attempts have been made to control the disease to some degree by fumigation, soil-applied fungicides, genetic control, cultural practices with some success using biological control agents. However, none of these strategies proved to be successful in totally controlling the disease. Therefore, in this book synergistic mixture of beneficial rhizospheric microbes with different plant colonization patterns, multiple antagonistic and stress tolerant traits has been looked upon for the eco-friendly management of the plant pathogen.

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Dr. Akanksha Singh did her M.Sc. and Ph.D. from Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi (India). Her empirical research includes biological control of plant pathogens, quorum sensing, natural antioxidants and nanotechnology. She is author of several articles in international journals and currently working as DST Young Scientist at Lucknow University.

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