Aromatic plants provide the chief raw materials for cosmetics, perfumery
and food industries. In recent years, with the rising need for therapeutic herbal
medicines, attention towards aromatic plants has increased. Because of inherent and
remedial pharmacological characteristics, aromatic plants are also exploited as natural
medicines, and are mainly used for the extraction of essential oils, which have
tremendous application in various industries. Aromatic plants become infested with
many diseases that cause degradation of the quality and quantity of the required
economic product. Considerable success has been achieved in managing the disease
through cultural practices and biological and chemical control. The present chapter
focuses on major diseases caused by fungi, viruses and bacteria threatening the
bioactive potential, biomass, yield and various plant products of important aromatic
plants, viz., basil (Ocimum spp.), citronella (Cymbopogon spp.), eucalyptus (Eucalyptus
spp.), Geranium (Geranium spp.), mint (Mentha spp.), rose (Rosa spp.), orchid (Orchis
spp.), tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa), etc. To enhance metabolite productive potential
and raw material quality, necessary strategies of management for diseases have been
defined, which are presented in the chapter.
Keywords: Basil, Citronella, Diseases management, Eucalyptus, Geranium, Mint, Rose.
