Among the Horticultural Crops, Fruits and Vegetables (FV) are of primary - portance as the key source of essential components in an adequate and balanced human diet. FV have supported largely the daily food requirement of mankind since ages and even before man learned to grow cereal crops systematically. Over the years, growing FV has been the mainstay of rural economy and has emerged as an indispensable part of agriculture world over, offering farmers a wide range of crops in varied topography and climate. In certain parts of the world, FV are the major dietary staple. Apart from being a rich source of vitamins and minerals, this sector also contributes significantly in economy of the region or the nation. The increased income from per unit area of FV is far ahead and can not be compared with that of cereal crops. A recent survey by the Economist revealed that the world population has - creased by 90 % in the past 40 years while food production has increased only by 25 % per head. With an additional 1. 5 billion mouth to feed by 2020, farmers worldwide have to produce 39 % more. Looking at the load of the future food requirement, the global increased production of FV during last few years has absorbed the additional food requirement and accordingly the eating habits are also changing and shifting - wards more consumption of these commodities worldwide.

This book contains high-quality peer-reviewed papers of the International Conference on Big Data, Machine Learning and their Applications (ICBMA 2019) held at Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology Allahabad, Prayagraj, India, during 29–31 May 2020. The book provides significant contributions in a structured way so that prospective readers can understand how these techniques are used in finding solutions to complex engineering problems. The book covers the areas of big data, machine learning, bio-inspired algorithms, artificial intelligence and their applications.

This textbook has been designed to meet the needs of B.Sc. First Semester students of Botany as per Common Minimum Syllabus prescribed for all Uttar Pradesh State Universities and Colleges under the recommended National Education Policy 2020. Maintaining the traditional approach to the subject, this textbook not only provides strong conceptual understanding, but also helps in developing scientific outlook of the student. It comprehensively covers two papers, namely, Microbiology & Plant Pathology and Techniques in Microbiology & Plant Pathology. The book acquaints the students with the classification of different microbes including viruses, algae, fungi and lichens. It also discusses pathogen and plant disease management in detail and lucidly explains the concept of identifying microbes, pathogens, biofertilizers and lichens. Practical part enables the students to identify microbes and use them for Industrial, Agricultural and Environmental purposes.

This textbook has been designed to meet the needs of B.Sc. first semester students of Botany stream for universities of Karnataka as per the recommended National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The book has been comprehensively written to provide full syllabus coverage with extensive details of concepts along with recent updates, illustrations, tables etc. The book has been written in lucid and easily understandable language for students. Each chapter has self-test exercise as well as a consolidated text on practical part along with viva voce questions at the end of the book.

For Degree, Honours and Postgraduate Students