The Department of Plant Pathology is one of the nation's outstanding departments, within one of the nation's top universities. The department has its roots in the Citrus Experiment Station, which was established in Riverside in 1906. Although the department has maintained a strength in the study of diseases of citrus, the interests of the faculty have expanded and now full-fledged programs also exist in the diseases of field crops, vegetables, ornamental plants, turfgrass, subtropical trees, and temperate tree crops.

A variety of approaches are being used in the study of these diseases and of the pathogenic agents involved, including bacteria, viruses, insects, and fungi. Some specific research areas currently emphasized in the Department are studies on the etiology of diseases; the biology and ecology of bacteria and fungi; improved methods for identifying plants infected with viruses and viroids, bacteria, and fungi. the replication of plant pathogenic viruses; the molecular biology of avirulence genes in bacteria and fungi; the transmission of viruses by insects; the genetics of copper resistance in bacteria and of fungicide resistance in fungi; approaches for reducing postharvest diseases of fruits; the genetics, biochemistry and cell biology of fungal growth and differentiation; epidemiology of bacterial and fungal diseases; biological control of soil-borne diseases; the development of safe fungicides and soil fumigants; and the management of plant diseases.

Citrus Experiment Station at Rubidoux:
Front-row (l-r): C. O. Smith, J. T. Barrett, L.D. Batchelor, H.S. Reed, W.P. Kelley, H.J. Webber
Back Row (l-r): E.E. Thomas, W.M. Mertz, H.B. Frost, H.S. Fawcett, W.D. Drew, R.S. Vaile.

DEPARTMENT CHAIRS

15. Michael Allen	2004 --
14. Michael Stanghellini	2001 -- 2004
13. Donald Cooksey	1996 -- 2001
12. James Sims	1993 -- 1996
11. Salomon Bartnicki-Garcia	1989 -- 1993
10. Noel Keen	1983 -- 1989
9. Joseph Semancik	1980 -- 1983
8. Donald Erwin	1977 -- 1980
7. Lewis Weathers	1974 -- 1977
6. George Zentmyer	1968 -- 1974
5. James Kendrick	1963 -- 1968
4. John Middleton	1957 -- 1963
3. Leo Klotz	1946 -- 1957
2. Howard Fawcett	1913 -- 1946
1. Ralph Smith	1905 -- 1913