Plant Pathology and Crop Physiology

Collection Development Policy Statement

Library's Collection Development Objectives

Support faculty and student research and the curriculum through the doctoral degree level in the disciplines of Plant Pathology and Crop Physiology, including the identification and biology of major plant pathogens, nematodes, and weed species; taxonomy and control of plant pests; and diagnosis and epidemiology of plant diseases, with an emphasis on semitropical crop species such as rice, sugarcane, cotton, sweet potatoes, and soybeans; and support research projects and programs conducted at the affiliated research stations of the LSU Agricultural Center, including the Burden Research Plantation in Baton Rouge.

Curriculum Program Descriptions:

The Department of Plant Pathology & Crop Physiology is part of the College of Agriculture. There are 13 faculty members in the department, all with Ph.D. degrees.  Most faculty members hold joint appointments with the University and the LSU Agricultural Center. LSU offers the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in plant health, with opportunities for specialization in plant pathology, weed science, and crop physiology. Course work also is available for undergraduate students. Listed below are the number of degrees awarded to students in Plant Pathology & Crop Physiology for the past five years:

Degrees Awarded

E (Empty String)      - (Info unavailable)

The following degree programs are offered which the Library collection supports:

Areas of Specialization/Major Faculty Research Interests

·        Disease and fungal ecology associated with pine roots

·        Biological control of seedling storage problem of longleaf pine

·        Influence of plant parasitic nematodes on agriculturally important plant species

·        Monitoring of species and races of soybean cyst, root-knot, and reniform nematodes associated with soybean, wheat, corn, and grain sorghum

·        Evaluation of the impacts of multiple pest complexes on soybean growth

·        Characterization of the impact of several fungi on reproduction of nematodes associated with Pinus spp.

·        Evaluation of the efficacy of secondary metabolites produced by Agrobacterium rhizogenes-infected marigold root cultures against several nematode species

·        Molecular mechanisms by which expression of seed storage protein genes (bean phaseolin and rice glutelin) is controlled during plant development

·        Factors involving transcriptional activation and protein structure/stability relationships

·        Improvement of nutritional quality of seeds of rice, soybean, and common bean

·        Epidemiology, etiology, and control of rice diseases

·        Breeding for disease resistance in rice

·        Biological control of rice pathogens

·        Rice tissue culture

·        Ecology and biological control of soilborne plant pathogens

·        Population genetics and phylogenetics of pathogenic fungi

·        Physiology and biochemistry of the root infection process

·        Etiology, pathology, and management of diseases of field crops

·        Application of recombinant DNA technology for plant virus diagnosis, characterization, and identification

·        Study of viral and non-viral double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) in plants

·        Identification of sources of resistance to pepper viruses

·        Vectors of plant viruses

CD ROMs, Electronic Books, Remotely Accessed Texts

LSU Libraries will purchase CD ROM works on a case by case basis when requested by faculty members or graduate students in need of enhanced capabilities afforded by CD ROMs. The LSU Libraries recognizes that electronic information, e-books, electronic paper, etc. merit attention. The purchase of access to remote data and texts, such as J-STOR and others, will be pursued when the ownership of remote products will benefit the greatest number of students, staff, and faculty at the best possible price. Purchase of remotely accessed texts must follow the policy and procedures set forth in Procedures for Acquiring and Processing Electronic Resources.

Classed Analysis

Prepared: January 15, 1998
Updated: March 15, 2003