植物病理学是对植物病害的研究，它在食品安全和食品生产，环境质量和可持续性以及先进的生物能源和生物基产品等全球挑战中处于最前沿，这是粮食，农业与环境学院的标志性领域科学。植物病理学家专门研究植物健康，类似于医师专门研究人类健康或动物保健兽医。植物受到各种致病生物（病原体）的影响，例如细菌，真菌，病毒和线虫，它们可能造成毁灭性的农作物损失并破坏森林和生态系统。入侵性疾病，例如荷兰榆树病，栗子枯萎病和橡树猝死，毁坏了森林和景观。即使巧克力的生产也受到可可病在南美的传播的威胁。
Plant pathology, the study of plant disease, is at the forefront of global challenges in food security and food production, environmental quality and sustainability, and advanced bioenergy and bio-based productsthe signature areas of the College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. Plant pathologists specialize in plant health, similar to the way a physician specializes in human health or a veterinarian in animal care. Plants are affected by a variety of disease-causing organisms (pathogens) such as bacteria, fungi, viruses and nematodes that can cause devastating crop losses and damage forests and ecosystems. Invasive diseases such as Dutch elm disease, chestnut blight and sudden oak death have devastated forests and landscapes. Even chocolate production is threatened by the spread of cacao disease in South America.