Biodiversity of Plant Pathogenic Fungi - Kerala Forest Research ...

considerable change in the occurrence and relative frequency of particular pathotype
(Sharma and Mohanan, 1982a,b, 1990,1991a,b, 1992b).
Studies on pathogenic fungi and diseases of forest stands have been systematically and
intensively carried out in developed countries (Brown and Davidson, 1968, Hepting,
1971). In India, Bakshi (195) initiated inventory of forest diseases during 1970s. In the
Kerala part of the Western Ghats, Sharma and Mohanan initiated problem-oriented
researches on prime forestry species like teak, eucalypts, etc. during 1980s and 1990s
(Sharma and Mohanan, 1981, 1982a,b, 1992a,b; Sharma et al., 1984a,b,c,d,e; 1985a,b;
Sharma and Sankaran, 1984), and Mohanan during 1990s (Mohanan, 1994a,b, 1995 a, b,
c, 1997 a, b; Mohanan and Sharma, 1982,1984, 1985, 1986 a, b, 1987, 1989a,b, 1990,
1991, 1993, 1994). Epidemiological studies on major diseases in man-made forests and
forest nurseries in the Western Ghats and their management have also been worked out to
avoid catastrophe (Sharma and Mohanan, 1992; Mohanan, 1990, 2202). However, in
natural stands, so far, no systematic inventory on phytopathogenic fungi, except on heart
rot fungi (Mohanan, 1991) has been carried out. The present study was undertaken with
the following objectives:
i. To undertake a comprehensive disease survey in natural forests, forest
plantations and nurseries in the Kerala part of the Western Ghats and
to document the fungal pathogens associated with various diseases of
forestry species, their distribution, and economic significance.
ii. To prepare an illustrated document on plant pathogenic fungi, their
association and distribution in various forest ecosystems in this region.
10