The following descriptions are for the course offered by the Plant Pathology Department. For a description of courses offered by other departments, see the MSU Description of Courses.
Undergraduate Level Courses
PLP 101 – Current Issues and Frontiers in Plant Pathology
Fall, 1 credit. Basic principles of plant disease and plant pathogens. Current topics and future opportunities in the discipline of plant pathology.
PLP 104 – Applied Plant Pathology for Ornamentals and Turf
Fall of odd years, 3 credits. Diseases of woody ornamentals and turf grasses.
PLP 105 – Fundamentals of Applied Plant Pathology
Spring, 2 credits. Diseases of major agronomic and horticultural plants. Disease management. Offered first ten weeks of the semester.
PLP 362 - Management of Turfgrass Pests
Fall, 4 credits. Chemical, biological, and cultural methods of managing weeds, diseases, and insect pests of turfgrass. Environmental considerations in pest management. Interdepartmental with Crop and Soil Sciences, Entomology.
PLP 402 – Biology of Fungi
Fall of odd years, 3 credits. Characteristics, habitats, and diversity of major groups of fungi. Ecologic and economic importance of fungi. Interdepartmental with Plant Biology
PLP 405 – Plant Pathology
Spring, 3 credits. Plant diseases and the organisms that cause them. Principles of disease management including application of chemicals, plant breeding, biological control, and genetic engineering.
PLP 407 – Diseases and Insects of Forest and Shade Trees
Spring, 4 credits. Diseases, insects, and environmental problems affecting trees in forests, parks, suburbs, and nurseries. Methods of control. Interdepartmental with Entomology, Plant Biology.
PLP 490 – Independent Study
Fall, Spring, Summer, variable credits: 1-3. Independent study of plant pathology on a laboratory, field, or library research program of special interest to the student.
PLP 491 – Selected Topics in Plant Pathology
Fall, Spring, Summer, variable credits: 1-3. Selected topics in plant pathology of current interest and importance.
PLP 492 – Seminar
Spring, 2 credits. Capstone course. Experience in scientific writing, oral presentations, professional preparation, and current developments in plant pathology.
PLP 493 – Professional Internship in Plant Pathology
Fall, Spring, Summer, 3 credits. Supervised professional experiences in agencies and businesses related to plant pathology.
PLP 498 – Undergraduate Research
Fall, Spring, Summer, variable credits: 1-4. Faculty-supervised laboratory and field research in plant pathology.
Graduate Level Courses
PLP 810 – Current Concepts in Plant Pathology
Spring, 3 credits. Recent findings in mycology, plant virology, bacteriology, nematology, disease physiology, and epidemiology.
PLP 812 – Epidemiology of Plant Diseases
Spring of odd years, 3 credits. Populations of plant pathogens and populations of plant hosts as affected by the environment and humans.
PLP 847 – Advanced Mycology
Spring of even years, 4 credits. Systematics, identification, physiology, genetics, and molecular biology of plant pathogenic fungi. Interdepartmental with: Plant Biology
PLP 880 – Plant Virology
Fall of odd years, 4 credits. Biology and molecular aspects of viruses causing plant disease.
PLP 881 – Molecular and Biochemical Plant Pathology
Spring of odd years, 3 credits. Biochemical and molecular bases of host-pathogen interactions. Mechanisms of pathogenicity and the nature of disease resistance.
PLP 884 – Prokaryotic Diseases of Plants
Fall of even years, 3 credits. Prokaryotic genera associated with plant diseases. Genetics and host-pathogen interactions. Prokaryotic disease control strategies.
PLP 885 – Plant Diseases in the Field
Summer odd years, 2 credits. Diagnosis of plant diseases and disorders in a field setting. Field trips and independent study required.
PLP 890 – Independent Study
Fall, Spring, Summer, variable credits: 1-4. Individual study in laboratory, field or library research in plant pathology.
PLP 893 – Selected Topics
Fall, Spring, Summer of odd years, variable credits: 1-4. Current topics in plant pathology.
PLP 894 – Seminar in Plant Pathology
Fall, Spring, 1 credit. Review, organization, analysis, and oral presentation of research.
PLP 899 – Master’s Thesis Research
Fall, Spring, Summer, variable credits: 1-12. Master’s thesis research.
PLP 999 – Doctoral Dissertation Research
Fall, Spring, Summer, variable credits: 1-24. Doctoral dissertation research.