Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University A land-grant institution
Plant Pathology, Physiology and Weed Science
The Department of Plant Pathology, Physiology and Weed Science, addresses the teaching, research and extension needs of three major subject matter disciplines: plant pathology, plant physiology, and weed science. All major commodity areas are addressed including agronomic crops, turf, and horticultural plants.
Graduate Program
Graduate students in the department may choose from either the M.S. or
Ph.D. degree specializing in any of the three program areas, a
non-thesis M.S. degree in the general area of plant protection, or the
Online Masters of Agricultural and Life Sciences program.
Research
Research within the Department is being conducted in the following areas: plant pathology: the study and management of plant disease, host-pathogen interactions, and plant pathogens (fungi, bacteria, viruses, and nematodes); plant physiology and molecular biology of plants: the study of plant growth and development, plant biotechnology and plant improvement, function and response to environmental stresses, and weed science: the study of weed biology, physiology, ecology, and management.
Extension
Extension programs within the department are conducted to effectively, economically, and environmentally responsibly control diseases and weeds in the production agronomic crops, horticultural crops, turf and grazing lands within the Commonwealth of Virginia. These programs are conducted from the main campus as well as from the Agricultural Experiment Stations throughout the Commonwealth.
Contact Information:
Elizabeth Grabau, Department Head
413 Price Hall (0331)
Blacksburg, Virginia 24061
(540) 231-6361
Fax: (540) 231-7477
egrabau@vt.edu
Department of Plant Pathology, Physiology and Weed Science Homepage