The second edition includes a chapter on disease diagnosis and expanded coverage of fungicides as well as problems of controlling pathogens in crops and produce entering international trade. In the latter case molecular techniques are likely to play an increasing role in disease diagnosis. Nucleic acid and antibody technologies may also be deployed in future to justify the application of control measures such as fungicides. Indeed, fungicides continue to play a dominant role in maintaining the high standards of disease control evident within the intensive farming systems of the European Union (formerly the European Community or EC) despite efforts to reduce the production of commodities surplus to EU requirements. However, impending economic and legislative pressures, as well as concerns over the long term toxicological and environmental effects of pesticides, may lead to reductions in the quantity of fungicides applied to crops and greater reliance on other methods of disease control.

The text overall is still intended to be a broad introduction to the practices of disease control currently used by farmers and growers within the EU, and particularly in the UK.