Plant Pathology at The Ohio State University

Plant pathology, the study of plant disease, is at the forefront of global challenges in food security and food production, environmental quality and sustainability, and advanced bioenergy and bio-based products—the signature areas of the College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

Plant pathologists specialize in plant health, similar to the way a physician specializes in human health or a veterinarian in animal care. Plants are affected by a variety of disease-causing organisms (pathogens) such as bacteria, fungi, viruses and nematodes that can cause devastating crop losses and damage forests and ecosystems. Invasive diseases such as Dutch elm disease, chestnut blight and sudden oak death have devastated forests and landscapes. Even chocolate production is threatened by the spread of cacao disease in South America.