Irish Famine

1845

Caused by Late blight of potato (Phytophthora infestans), leading to destruction of the potato crop and death of ~20 lakh people.

Coffee Rust in Sri Lanka

1867

Caused by Hemileia vastatrix (earlier written as H. vestetricola).

Downy Mildew of Grapes (France)

1882–1885

Caused by Plasmopara viticola. Controlled by Bordeaux mixture, discovered by P.M.A. Millardet (1882) — first fungicide (formulated in 1885).

Composition of Bordeaux Mixture

5 lb CuSO₄ + 5 lb lime + 50 gallons water

Bengal Famine

1943

Due to Brown spot of rice (Helminthosporium oryzae)

Theophrastus

380–287 B.C.

Wrote “The Nature of Plants” and “Reasons of Vegetable Growth” → Father of Botany

Anton van Leeuwenhoek

1675

Developed the first microscope

P.A. Micheli

1729

First to study fungi and observe spores on watermelon → Father of Mycology; wrote “Nova Plantarum Genera”

C. Linnaeus

1753

Proposed Binomial nomenclature (Systema Naturae) → Father of Zoological Classification

Tillet

1755

Published on bunt (stinking smut) of wheat

Prevost

1807

Proved bunt of wheat caused by fungus; used CuSO₄ for control → discovered fungal life cycle

Anton de Bary

1861

Father of Plant Pathology; proved Phytophthora infestans causes late blight of potato; discovered heteroecious nature of black rust (1885)

Brefeld

1875

Developed methods of artificial culture of microbes → Father of Pure Culture Technique

Robert Koch

1876

Father of Microbial Technique of Bacteriology; discovered bacterial etiology of anthrax; proposed Koch’s Postulates (4th step later by Smith, 1905)

T.J. Burrill (USA)

1882

First to prove a bacterial disease in plants (Fire blight of pear – Erwinia amylovora)

H.H. Flor

1946

Proposed “Gene-for-Gene” concept (linseed rust – Melampsora lini)

Van der Plank

1963

Proposed Vertical & Horizontal resistance, and the concept of Epidemiology → Father of Epidemiology

Kassanis

1962

Discovered Satellite viruses (in Tobacco Necrosis Virus)

Shepherd et al.

1968

Reported dsDNA in Cauliflower Mosaic Virus (CaMV)

Goodman

1971

Discovered ssDNA Gemini viruses

T.O. Diener

1971

Gave term “Viroid”; discovered Potato Spindle Tuber Viroid (PSTV); viroids are circular naked RNA without protein coat

K.R. Kirtikar

First Indian scientist to collect and identify fungi in India.

E.J. Butler

Father of Plant Pathology in India and Father of Mycology in India; wrote “Fungi and Diseases in Plants” (1918).

Dr. K.C. Mehta

Father of Wheat Rust Research in India; studied cereal rust epidemiology at Agra; discovered disease cycle of wheat rust.

B.B. Mundkur

Worked on cotton wilt control through varietal resistance; founded Indian Phytopathological Society (1948) and its journal Indian Phytopathology; authored “Fungi and Plant Diseases”.

Endemic

Disease constantly present in a region in moderate to severe form.

Wart disease of potato

Epidemic

Occurs widely and severely but periodically.

Red rot of sugarcane, Late blight of potato, Wheat rusts

Sporadic

Occurs at irregular intervals and places.

Green ear disease of bajra

Pandemic

Prevalent throughout country, continent, or world.