Ph.D.Agricultural and Forestry Phytopathology and Plant Protection

Czech University of Life Sciences Prague - Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources

The study program ‘Agricultural and Forestry Phytopathology and Plant Protection’ belongs to the study program P4106 Agricultural Specialization. This field focuses mainly on the study of biology, physiology and epidemiology of plant pests and pathogens, diagnostic methods, resistance of plants to pathogens and pests and resistance of these harmful organisms to pesticides, as well as on chemical, biological, and other methods of plant protection. The most modern diagnostic and analytical methods are used for the study.

Graduate profile

Students of doctoral study programme “Agricultural and Forestry Phytopathology and Plant Protection” acquire highly specialized knowledge and skills in this scientific field. During the study, students are motivated to develop skills of induction and deduction, which are necessary for quality scientific work. Students learn to use and develop diagnostic methods of plant pathogens - viruses, viroids, bacteria, fungi and phytoplasmas. They are also able to determine the pests from the group insects, mites, nematodes, gastropods and harmful rodents. Students acquire knowledge and skills in the field of epidemiology of diseases and pests and weed infestation in field and horticultural crops, fruit orchards and public green vegetation. Additionally, students are able to apply the techniques of molecular biology to study the pathogenesis and for diagnostics. Finally, PhD graduates of this study programme are able to develop methods of biological, chemical and integrated control. Students use mathematical simulation models of plant pathogens and pests development usable in plant protection. The ability of independent scientific work is a prerequisite for the incorporation of PhD graduates into key positions in state administration, research institutions, companies distributing pesticides and at universities. Direct continuity with the master's degree enables to continue with topics of diploma thesis. The study is attractive to students from the Czech Republic and from abroad because they are incorporated into the research activities within research and development projects. Department of Plant Protection collaborates closely with important Czech (CRI and IEB AS CR, IOCB AS CR, UCT Prague) and foreign (University of Bari, University of Potenza) institutions where students have the opportunity to develop their skills in research work in the form of research fellowship. As part of this collaboration, students acquire new information and data. These new information and data are then incorporated into practice, namely in the form of scientific papers.