The Department of Plant Protection has always been aligned with the Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources. The department was established in the 1950s, however some subjects concerning plant protection were already taught before the First War. Since then several well known professors have been employed here, including: Professor Baudyš, Professor Bubák and Professor Bartoš. Today the Department of Plant Protection is the only self-sustaining department that specializes in plant protection in the Czech Republic.
Focus:
The department specializes in the teaching and research of plant protection. The professors/courses are focused on diseases and pests inherent in field/horticultural crops and ornamental plants, problems connected with their determination, both chemical and non-chemical protection of plants against pests and disease and the effective management of all the above.
Educational activity:
Seventeen subjects are taught by professors of the department for students of FAFNR, two are taught for students of the Institute of Tropics and Subtropics. The professors also participate in teaching of other subjects such as FYTO 1, for some programs of FAFNR and General Phytotechnics, for students of the Faculty of Economy. The department is also a coordinator for special study of plant protection for officers of the State Phytosanitary Administration. External professors work in tandem with internal professors for the teaching of specialised subjects. E.g. Phytobacteriology.
Research activity:
Research activities of the Department are mainly directed towards the adoption and use of molecular diagnostic methods for the determination of pests, (nematodes, storage pests) and pathogens. Viroids, viruses, fungi, virus diseases of sugar beet and fruit trees, diseases and pests of winter rape, diseases of cereals, nematology, diseases and pests of trees and shrubs in recultivated areas, and faunistic studies of protected areas and parks (mites and bugs). Research is financed by several grants and agreements with various companies. The department cooperates with a range of institutions from the Czech Republic and abroad including: Crop Production Research Institute Prague, State Phytosanitary Administration, Potato Research Institute Havlíčkův Brod, Grain Research Institute Kroměříž, Institute of Experimental Botany CAS, Palacky University Olomouc, Fruit Research and Breeding Institute Holovousy, Oil Crops Research Institute Opava, Union of Winter Rape Producers, Zoological Institute Sankt Petersburg (Russia), University of Evora (Portugal), University of Gottingen (Germany), University of Basilicata Potenza (Italy), CNR Bari (Italy), Belorussian Potato Research Institute Minsk etc. Professors are also involved in extension services for farmers.
International contacts:
Zoological Institute Sankt Petersburg (Russia), University of Evora (Portugal), University of Gottingen (Germany), University of Basilicata Potenza (Italy), CNR Bari (Italy), Belorussian Potato Research Institute Minsk etc.
Other activities:
The Department of Plant Protection organizes scientific and professional conferences for the public, and PhD students in plant protection. Some examples of recently organized conferences are: VI. Conference EFPP (2002), XVII. Czech and Slovak Conference on Plant Protection (2006), Conference of PhD Students in Plant Protection (2005) etc. The department also holds short professional courses for officers of the State Phytosanitary Administration; these are devoted mainly to diagnostics.