This textbook explores immunology as applied to plants. It is designed to equip the readers with the knowledge to apply immunological techniques in real-world agricultural scenarios, making it an indispensable tool for advancing plant science education and research. It explains the molecular and cellular foundations of plant immunity, host-pathogen interactions and biotechnological applications of immunological tools in crop improvement and diagnostics. The chapters cover a range of critical topics, including plant immune responses, systemic acquired resistance, elicitors and signaling pathways. The book also delves into practical applications, such as molecular markers, immunodiagnostics, hybridoma technology, ELISA and the production of monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies, emphasizing their use in pathogen detection and crop improvement.

This textbook has a strong pedagogical focus and is an important reference for graduate students in the fields of immunology, life sciences, agricultural sciences and biotechnology. 

Dr. N. Manikanda Boopathi is currently working as a Professor of plant biotechnology at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), Coimbatore, India with over two decades of research and teaching experience. His expertise spans molecular genetics, genomics, and biotechnology-driven crop improvement, with a special focus on molecular breeding, genome mapping and translational applications. His research has advanced understanding of gene function, stress physiology and biomolecular interactions in plants, laying the foundation for applying immunological principles to plant sciences. Dr. Boopathi has numerous publications in leading journals, mentors young researchers and is active involved in integrating molecular biology with crop improvement.