Towards a landscape perspective of diseases in plants: An overview and review of a critical but overlooked ecology issue in the hindu kush-himalayan region

Abstract

Diseases in plants are important because they are the underlying causes of reduction in quality and quantity of productivity of crops, herbs, woods, and other products. While few diseases are responsible for mass destruction and endangerment of few plants, their studies are less prioritized. That is especially due to the lack of awareness, data, research, and the existing traditional practices of cultivation all over the Himalayan countries. The existence and transmission of the diseases are directly or indirectly governed by various landscape factors like properties of pathogens and host and micro-and macro- environments, but, these factors have not been elaborated in the Hindu-Kush Himalaya (HKH) region and thus, this chapter has discussed these aspects with reference to few critical diseases. In addition, field experiences along various altitudinal landscapes of the HKH region during the study of plant pathology have been included. Concluding remarks and recommendations related to further research and management have been made.