Plant pathology in the Czech Republic

Abstract

An outline of past achievements in plant pathology in the CR and main recent problems of Czech plant pathologists are given. A description of the present state in plant pathology in the CR is preceded by data on the structure of CR, on its agriculture, research and development. The outstanding feature of the Czech agriculture is large-scale production. However, the CR still lags behind the EU in yields per hectare. Compared with the EU member states, the CR devotes less money (less then 0.7% of GDP) to research and development (R&D). The trend of state subsidies to R&D in the agriculture sector in current prices is stagnant. It represents an actual decline in the fixed prices. In the Czech Republic, approximately six hundreds persons are professionally engaged in plant health. It represents 6 professionals per 100 hundreds citizens in the CR. Around 160 persons deal with the research and/or teaching of plant pathology. Public service in the field of plant health (advisory work, extension or outreach activities) is one of the weak links in the system of plant health care in the CR. The reason is the lack of commitment for this field of plant health care activity together with absence of sufficient financial support. Minimum requirements for education should be set on advisors and provider of services in the field of plant health at the EU level. In the CR, there exists still some gap in scientific expertise of nematology and integrated pest management. The Czech Lands are proud of the role of some Bohemian and Moravian scientists who have been prominent in the development of plant pathology and related disciplines. These include: AU-GUSTUS CARL JOSEPH CORDA and FRANTIŠEK BUBÁK in mycology, GREGOR JOHANN MENDEL in genetics, FRANTIŠEK KRÁL in bacteriology, BOHUMIL NĚMEC and EDUARD BAUDYŠ in plant pathology.Keywords: Czech agriculture; R&D in the CR; the present state and the past of plant pathology in the Czech Lands; prominent Bohemian and Moravian scientists in plant pathology and related disciplines

Is species diversity of various crop "pest taxa" proportionate to efforts paid to their research? A scientometric analysis in the Czech Republic - short note

“…Numbers of scientists working in "plant health" research were retrieved from Kůdela (2002Kůdela ( , 2004. Numbers of pest species were retrieved from Kůdela and Kocourek (2002), Kůdela et al (2012), and Lebeda (2013).…”

Resistance of determinant tomato varieties to the causal agents of bacterial wilt disease

“…Under conditions of a temperate zone, it can occur only in greenhouses. Race 3 shows lower temperature optimum (27 °C) and attacks mainly potato and tomato (KUDELA et al, 2002). Temperature only max.…”

“…the causal agent of brown rot was found in a number of European countries. Some strains of this race are adapted to a colder climate, an optimum for their growth being lower ranging about 27 °C (KUDELA, 2002). In 1994-1995, DIGAT & CAFFIER (1996 noted the fi rst occurrence of Rs in France on tomatoes.…”

Review of the Genesis of Plant Pathology and Its Relation to the Phytiatry as a Necessary Element in the Sustainable Development of Agronomy

“…In 1894, the private foundation Willie Commelin Scholten established a plant pathology laboratory-the Willie Commelin Scholten Phytopathological Laboratory-in Amsterdam. This was one of the first institutes in the world dedicated to scientific research and higher education in plant pathology [69] (p. 667); in 1899, the first department dedicated to the study of plant diseases and pests was established in the Czech Republic at the Agricultural Research Station in Prague [70] (p. 6). In 1907, in the USA, a Department of Plant Pathology was founded at Cornell University; the next one was founded two years later at the University of Wisconsin, followed by others at the Universities of California (Berkeley), Illinois (Urbana), Minnesota (St. Paul's), and Washington (Pullman) [49] (p. 226).…”