Department Overview
The Department of Plant Protection (KOR) is one of the longest-established departments of the Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources (formerly the Faculty of Agronomy). It specializes in education and research in the field of plant protection. Staff members focus on pathogens and pests affecting horticultural and field crops as well as ornamental plants, including related issues such as detection and identification, and chemical and non-chemical methods of plant protection and their management.
Research Activities
The department’s research is primarily focused on:
- Diseases and pests of winter oilseed rape
- Viral diseases of fruit crops and wild woody plants
- Diseases of cereals
- Plant health nematology and acarology
- Development and testing of both chemical and alternative plant protection methods and their effects on non-target organisms
An integral part of the research involves the development and adaptation of molecular methods for the detection and identification of various plant pathogens and pests.
Teaching
The Department of Plant Protection is the guarantor of both the Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programs in Plant Health Care, as well as the doctoral program in Agricultural and Forestry Phytopathology and Plant Protection.
Within these programs, the department teaches a wide range of general and specialized subjects focusing on:
- Plant pathogens and pests
- Their biology and identification
- Various methods of plant protection
In other study programs, the department provides courses covering general principles of plant protection and follow-up courses focused on protection of specific crop groups.
Consultancy and Collaboration with Practice
Department staff actively engage in advisory services through lectures at professional seminars, field days, and individual consultations with growers, pesticide distributors, and public authorities at both the national and regional levels.
An important part of the consultancy involves accurate identification of plant diseases and pests for both professionals and the general public.
As part of the National Qualifications Framework, staff members verify professional competence for the qualification Agricultural Advisor for Plant Protection (code: 41-060-R).
The department also cooperates on research grants with various crop-specific research institutes.
