VIEW ARTICLE

Plenary Session

An Agenda for Phytopathology. Robert M. Goodman, Calgene, Inc., 1920 Fifth Street, Davis, CA 95616. Copyright 1988 The American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-78-32.

Plant pathology has a long and distinguished history of incorporating knowledge and assimilating people from other disciplines of science. The rapid developments in molecular biology and the interests shown in plant pathology as a research field by molecular biologists are the latest external development that help shape our field. Plant pathology also has played a central role in modern agriculture. Some of the practices that have become accepted in agriculture, for environmental or economic reasons or both, must change. These changes include disease management practices. With new tools, including those of recombinant genetics, the field of plant pathology is better equipped than ever to respond to the challenge of improving on agricultural practices. Already, molecular biology is providing answers to some of the classic problems in plant pathology and helping form the basis of new disease management options.