The study of diseases that affect plants is known as plant pathology. A bachelor’s degree in a subject such as biology, chemistry, or math is typically required to become a plant pathologist. If the student wants to advance in the field, he or she will need a master’s degree or a doctorate in plant pathology.
A person who wants to be a plant pathologist usually has a natural interest in science and an aptitude for it. Plant pathologists must be familiar with the various diseases that can affect plants, such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Before specializing, he or she must first learn the fundamentals of biology or chemistry in an undergraduate program. Plant pathologists can also use a math degree to track disease using computer modeling, which is one area of plant pathology. As of 2011, an undergraduate degree devoted solely to plant pathology is no longer required.
Microbiology, virology, and mycology are branches of biology that cover the fundamentals of most microbial diseases. Worms, for example, fall under the category of nematology, or parasitology. Some plant pathologists study the diseases’ molecular biology or the plant’s physiological response to them. Plant pathology is also influenced by genetics and biotechnology. Plant pathologists who are interested in epidemiology (the study of disease transmission) may have a math background.
People with only a bachelor’s degree may be able to find a few entry-level jobs in the field of plant pathology. A postgraduate degree is required to work as a plant pathologist in most industries or research institutions. A master’s degree in plant pathology is usually required to work as a plant pathologist, and a doctorate in the field, or a related field, is usually required for research work.
Even before attending college and earning an undergraduate degree, a future plant pathologist should start preparing in high school. Biology, chemistry, and physics are examples of science subjects that can provide a solid foundation. Computer skills and a good command of the English language may also be advantageous in the future.
Because plant pathology has so many applications, future pathologists should pick their college courses carefully. A research degree, for example, can demonstrate to potential employers which aspects of the field pique the student’s interest, pique the employers’ interest in him or her. A doctorate in genetic engineering, for example, might be useful for agricultural biotechnology jobs, while a postgraduate degree in pathogen resistance mechanisms might be useful for government advisory roles.