Cotton pests and diseases identification system

COTON-DOC is a multimedia management software system giving information about cotton plants and their pests in francophone Africa south of the Sahara. Using an interactive graphic system, it assists in the identification of pathogenic organisms which cause disease symptoms observed on cotton plants. Each of 150 pests or diseases is contained as a block of information which allows the user interactively to refer to descriptive text, monographs, colour images, geographical distribution, control methods and an extensive bibliography. Integrated pest control is described by using definitions and pictures and includes information about implementation methods detailing each component. A copiously illustrated section is devoted to beneficial insects in cotton cultivation. Rational chemical control is also considered with details of active materials (including LD50 values), application techniques and treatment programmes. The main production data are set out for fourteen cotton-growing countries south of the Sahara. Bibliographical references are cited for every topic examined, giving details of the principal studies and findings in francophone countries and there is a glossary which is directly accessible from all texts and which supplies definitions of technical terms. COTON-DOC is simple to set up and use, making it suitable for teaching, and its user-friendly form makes it accessible to non-computer literate individuals who are untrained in crop protection but are working in the field of cotton production. COTON-DOC incorporates 480 colour photos, 1500 pages of text, 180 bibliographical references and a glossary of more than 450 definitions and is available on CD-ROM, in French. It was developed as a result of a partnership between the Centre de coopération internationale en recherche agronomique pour le développement (CIRAD) and the Association des universites partiellement ou entierement de langue française (AUPELF). CIRAD-CA Service des publications, de l'information et de la documentation 2477 avenue du Val de Montferrand BP 5053 34032 Montpellier Cedex 1 FRANCE

COTON-DOC is a multimedia management software system