The book “Mycology, Microbiology and Plant Pathology” is a text written for Under – Graduate students of Botany studying in different universities in Rajasthan and other parts of the country. Students of B.Sc. (Honours) in Botany, B.Sc. (Agricutlure) and M.Sc. in Botany can also use this book as primer to more elaborated texts. During last few decades, we have witnessed deluge of new information, especially in the field of molecular biology, forcing us to look at the life and functions of microbes with altogether different approach. The book therefore, presents the most modern view about the microbes as we know them today. Nevertheless, the conservative view point about microbes has been retained for the convenience of readers transitioning into new era of our understanding about evolutionary biology based on genomics. However, most recent developments in molecular taxonomy, evolution and systematic of microbes such as Fungi, Mycorrhizae, Plant Viruses, Mycoplasma, Spiroplasma and Phytoplasma have been described in great detail. A brief account of pathogenic microbes, such as Viroids, Prions and AIDS Virus has been provided. Colour photo-plates included in a chapter on Symptoms of Plant Diseases, adds value to our understanding about symptoms manifested by plant under attack of various phytopathgens. A Glossary of Technical Terms and English-Hindi Dictionary of Technical Terms provided in the book will prove highly useful for the students. The amalgamation of traditional knowledge with most modern understanding about the microbes presented in this book makes it unique and different from other similar books available in the market.

Dr. Sunil Dutta Purohit has taught Mycology, Microbiology and Plant Pathology both at Post-Graduate and Under-Graduate levels for more than 35 years at Mohanlal Sukhadia University, Udaipur, Rajasthan. He has served this university in various capacities including, Professor and Head, Department of Botany, Course Director, Department of Biotechnology and Dean and Chairman, Faculty of Science. He has speny more than 40 year of research on micropropagation of plants of medicinal, horticultural and forestry importance. His work also included molecular characterization of diversity of a number of plant species of Aravallis in Rajasthan. Dr. Purohit has supervised 28 Ph.D. students and has successfully completed 15 research projects funded by different government agencies. He has authored 23 books and has published about 130 research articles in journals of national and international repute. He has visited U.K., USA, Canada, Iran and Greece in connection with his research. He is member of several professional and academic bodies in India and abroad Dr. Purohit is a Member of Board of Directiors, Phytoessence Consortium and Senior Editor for the International Journal of Phytocosmetic Science, Boston, USA. Dr. Purohit has been chosen for Excellence Award 2020 by IPEC-ISPS, USA. Dr. Gotam Kumar Kukda, Head, Department of Botany, Maharana Pratap Govt. P.G. College, Chittorgarh, Rajasthan is engaged in teaching of Botany since last 25 years. A Post-Graduate in Botany from Mohanlal Sukhadia University, Udaipur, he stood First in the Order of Merit and won University Gold Medal. He has qualified both NET (JRF) and GATE before joining service. Having secures a Ph.D. degree from the same university, he has published 16 research papers in the journals of national and international repute. He has attended a large number of conderence and symposia. Dr. Kukda is a free-lance scientific writer and has written many popular articles on medicinal plants in national and regional media. He has authored 15 books on various subjects in botany. He has also authored books on Environmental Biology and Practical Biology for the Board of Secondary Education, Rajasthan, Ajmer. He has supervised M.Phil Dissertations of 5 students. He is Programme Officer of NSS since last 10 years. He is also a Co-ordinator for Vardhman Mahaveer Open University, Kota and Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi.