What is Plant Pathology? || Introduction, Scope, Objective and History of Plant Pathology

 ∆ What is Plant Pathology?

Plant pathology or phytopathology consists of three Greek words (1) "phyton" means 'Plant' (2) "pathos"= 'ailments' or disease and (3) "logos" means discourse or knowledge.

The term plant pathology or phytopathology means knowledge of plant disease. Plant pathology is therefore regarded equally important as medical and veterinary.

Plant pathology also called as phytopatology. It is a branch of biological, botanical or agricultural science which deals with the systematic study of economically important plant disease and their management. Systematic study include causes of plant disease, symptomatology, etiology, pathogenesis, mode of recurrence and their economic management.

Figure : Smut in Sugarcane

∆ Objective of Plant Pathology :-

The science of plant pathology has following major objectives:-

1. Comprises the study of living and non-living pathogens.

2. It include the study of interaction among the suspectable host, pathogens and overall environments at constant human activity which result in the causation and development of plant disease.

3. Epidemiology and forecasting of epiphytotic disease are also studied.

4. Studies also include how to find out the cost/benefit ratio based on eco-friendly practices for management of different disease of economically important crop plants.

Figure : Rust in leaves

∆ Scope of Plant Pathology:-

Scope and responsibilities of plant pathology are thus unlimited. Plant pathologist study the biology and ability of pathogens responsible to cause disease in crop plants, The mechanism how they cause disease, the mechanism of their spread and survival within and outside the host plant population and activities of the pathogens can be reduced or controlled.

          

        The ultimate goal of plant pathology is to prevent and control plant disease of economic importance.

∆ Importance of Plant Disease or Plant Pathology :-

~ Losses they cause 

~ 34% of the crop production is lost due to disease, insect-pest and weeds on the global basis, out of which 12% loss due to disease (caused by fungi bacteria or viruses) 11% due to nematodes 7% due to insect-pests and 3% due to weeds.

~ when the plant protection measure are not implemented annual loss of 30-50% are common in major crops including horticulture.

~ study of plant disease is important as the cause loss to the plant as well as plant produce.

∆ History of Plant Pathology :-

The development of this subject started with the study of mycology. The first Indian University that was established in 1857, in Calcutta. Plant pathology as University subject came into being in 1930 at Universities of Madras, Allahabad and Lucknow.

                   During 1852-1857 A.D Cunningham and A Berkelly started identification of fungi. Canningham studied Indian rust and smut. K.R Kirtikar was the first Indian scientist who collected and identified fungi.

                              S.L Ajrekar studied wilt of cotton, sugarcane smut and ergot of Bajra.

B.B Mundukar a  dynamic teacher, researcher and writer will be known for establishing "Indian phytopathological society" with its journal "Indian phytopathology" in 1948. He also wrote a book "Fungi and plant disease".           

                 R.S Singh book "Plant Diseases" is referred as Bible of Plant pathology in India.