M.Sc. in Plant Pathology is a 2-year postgraduate course, the minimum eligibility for admission to which is the successful completion of B.Sc. with a minimum aggregate score of 55%, and a minimum of 1 year of experience.
Admission to the course is based on the candidate’s performance in a relevant national, State or institute-level entrance test, such as PGIMER, and the following round of counselling. The average tuition fee charged in India for the course ranges between INR 5,000 and 1.2 Lacs for a span of 3 years.
The average annual salary offered to successful Plant Pathologists ranges between INR 2 to 5 Lacs, increasing with experience and skillset in the field.
Table of Contents
M.Sc. in Plant Pathology: Course Highlights
Listed below are some of the major highlights of the course.
| Course Level | Graduate |
| Duration | 3 years |
| Examination Type | Semester System |
| Eligibility | B.Sc. with minimum 55% aggregate marks and 1-year experience |
| Admission Process | Based on counselling after qualification of a relevant entrance test such as PGIMER |
| Course Fee | INR 5,000 to 1.2 Lacs for 3 years |
| Average Starting Salary | INR 2 to 5 lacs per annum |
| Top Recruiting Companies | Agricultural consulting companies, Agricultural firm, Agricultural Research Service, Agrochemical companies, Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service, Biological control companies, Biotechnology firms, Botanical gardens, Colleges and universities, Diagnostic laboratories, EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), Forest Service, International agricultural research centers, Lawn and landscape maintenance firms, etc. |
| Job Positions | Researcher, Plant Specialist, Plant Pathologist, Teacher, Health Educators, Health Manager, Consultant etc. |
M.Sc. in Plant Pathology: What is it About?
M.Sc. in Plant Pathology is essentially aimed at offering eligible candidates an advanced learning in plant diseases and their management. The program plays a vital role in familiarizing students with:
- issues relating to crop protection
- environmental issues caused by excessive usage of pesticides
- disease-causing organisms in plants
- factors that are responsible for plant epidemics and their effective protection from pathogens.
- technical training in emerging uses and effects of pesticides on plants.
- topics such as pathogens, pests, plant disease resistances, transgenic, biotechnology and Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO)
- identifying and managing plant diseases
- environmental friendly applications for plant protection
- tools for handling research work in all areas of plant pathology.
The program lays emphasis on research methodology and enhancing analytical thinking skills in students for handling plant-related problems and solving them effectively. Students are exposed to lessons in theory, practical, seminars, demonstrations, field visits, and group discussions and given first-hand experience.
Assessments include presentations, project works, assignments, and oral and written examinations. The course’s syllabus covers the following:
| Concepts and classification of causal agents, plants and pathogens | Concepts and classification of causal agents, plants and pathogens |
| Production, liberation and dissemination of inoculums | Production, liberation and dissemination of inoculums |
| Pathogen infection, germination and penetration into hosts | Pathogen infection, germination and penetration into hosts |
| Symptoms, growth and reproduction of pathogens in plants | Symptoms, growth and reproduction of pathogens in plants |
| Action of pathogens, factors affecting plant disease outbreak | Action of pathogens, factors affecting plant disease outbreak |
M.Sc. in Plant Pathology aims at sharpen the skills of eligible candidates in the various techniques and processes associated with plant protection. Both government and corporate sectors offer attractive compensation packages to pathologists.
Top Institutes offering M.Sc. in Plant Pathology
Tabulated here are the names and corresponding details of the top institutes offering the course in India.
| Name of Institute | City | Average Fees |
|---|---|---|
| BFIT | Dehradun | INR 1,20,000 (Course) |
| Maharishi Markandeshwar University | Ambala | INR 47,000 (Course) |
| LPU | Punjab | INR 99,000 (Course) |
| Mata Gujri College | Punjab | INR 50,790 (Course) |
| The IIS University | Jaipur | INR 49,650 (Course) |
| Jagannath University | Jaipur | INR 65,000 (Course) |
| Vivekananda Global University | Jaipur | INR 62,500 (Course) |
| Reva University | Yelahanka | INR 40,000 (Course) |
| MM Institute of Management | Ambala | INR 35,000 (Course) |
| Maharishi Markandeshwar University | Ambala | INR 47,000 (Course) |
| Rai University | Ahmedabad | INR 55,000 (Course) |
| Marotrao Wadafale College of Agriculture | Hyderabad | INR 60,000 (Course) |
| College of Agricultural Engineering | Guntur | INR 25,000 (Course) |
| Indian Agricultural Research Institute | Delhi | INR 15,000 (Course) |
| Tamil Nadu Agricultural University | Coimbatore | INR 30,000 (Course) |
| Acharya NG Ranga Agricultural University | Hyderabad | INR 25,000 (Course) |
| JNU | Delhi | INR 3,000 (Course) |
| Punjab Agricultural University | LUDHIANA | INR 25,000 (Course) |
| Indian Agricultural Statistics Research Institute | Delhi | INR 12,000 (Course) |
| Indian Veterinary Research Institute | Bareilly | INR 20,000 (Course) |
Eligibility of M.Sc. in Plant Pathology
Candidates willing to apply for the course need to fulfill the minimum eligibility criteria listed here:
- Graduation in Biological Science or Agriculture, completed from a recognized university
- A minimum aggregate score of 50% at the level of graduation.
M.Sc. in Plant Pathology: Admission Process
Admission to the course is provided to eligible candidates on the basis of performance in a relevant entrance examination, which is conducted either by the concerned institution or at the State or national level. A cut-off score is set for the examination and students clearing that are eligible for the counselling process.
The counselling process comprises two additional rounds of Group Discussion and Personal Interview, wherein the candidate’s general aptitude for the course is examined, and seats are allotted to qualifying students.
Although, there are some colleges in India that provide admission on the basis of marks scored in last qualifying examination (graduation).
Some of the popular entrance exams conducted in India for adm*ission to the course are:
- Manipal University Online Entrance Test (MU-OET)
- JIPMER Entrance Exam
M.Sc. in Plant Pathology: Syllabus and Course Description
Semester I |
Semester II |
| Agrometeorology and crop weather forecasting | Modern concepts in crop production |
| Principles and practices of water management | Principles and practices of weed management |
| Principles and practices of soil fertility and nutrient management | Dryland farming and watershed management |
| - | Cropping systems and sustainable agriculture |
Semester III |
Semester IV |
| Agronomy of major cereals and pulses | M.Sc. Seminar |
| Agronomy of oilseeds, commercial and fiber crops | M.Sc. Comprehensive |
| - | M.Sc. Research |
M.Sc. in Plant Pathology: Career Prospects
Successful postgraduates of the course are lucratively employed in:
institutions, horticulture, and agriculture-based establishments
- Government and private sectors, banks, food, commodity and biotechnology companies
- plantations, agriculture machinery industries
- maintenance of public parks, agricultural universities
- research units, botanical gardens, forestry etc.
Thy are hired for roles such as:
- marketing officers, professors, plant breeders
- logistic coordinators, pest control, field and forest officers, managers.
Successful postgraduates interested in pursuing further studies in the discipline may go for Ph.D. or M.Phil. in Plant Protection, Plant Pathology, Entomology, Nematology, Weed Sciences, and such branches.
Plant Pathology postgraduates can work as Plant Geneticists, Plant Breeders, Aquatic Botanists, Limnologists, Physiologists, Plant Pathologists, Professors, Consultants, and Agricultural Engineers or Inspectors at district or State levels.
Some of the popular professional avenues open to successful postgraduates of the course are listed below with the corresponding salaries offered for the respective positions.
| Job Position | Job Description | Average Annual Pay Scale in INR |
|---|---|---|
| Researcher | Obtaining an education in Plant Pathology can lead to a number of research opportunities. Entry-level careers typically involve basic experimentation and assisting more experienced scientists with developing ways to keep plants healthy and disease-free. Advanced-level research opportunities allow Pathologists to apply research in order to enact changes in the field. Accomplished researchers also publish their work or lecture on their discoveries. | 3,12,032 |
| Plant Specialist | Plant Pathologists can become plant specialists working for food production companies and farms. Their knowledge of seeds, agriculture and ecology can aid them in working with other scientists and professionals to develop new processes for fighting plant pathogens. For instance, in the farming industry, they might assist crop managers with ways to keep the crop free of pests and diseases, increasing productivity and yield of the plants and crops they oversee. | 3,78,705 |
| Plant Pathologist | Plant Pathologists work in laboratories with technologically advanced equipment and scientific devices such as microscopes. From microorganisms to molecules, plants get scrutinized and analyzed. Outside of the lab, Plant Pathologists study their subjects in natural environments with instruments that trap spores, as all factors must be studied in attempting to enhance a plant's health. | 4,66,071 |
| Teacher | Obtaining an advanced education in plant pathology qualifies one for becoming an educator. These scientists work as teachers in colleges, universities and high schools and could offer regular or guest-lecture courses through extension or outreach departments. Teachers offer research opportunities to students and fulfill a need to develop or expand interest in the field. | 2,92,705 |
| Health Educators | Heath Educators create programs that encourage health and wellness, and prevent disease. They teach people how to make good health decisions, incorporate healthy activities into their lives and avoid harmful behaviors. | 2,70,558 |
| Health Manager | Government agencies, employ Plant Pathology postgraduates as Health Managers, who focus on ways to increase the health of the foods that consumers eat. This can be done through the application of processes that assist in biological control over a plant's health. They might also apply their chemical knowledge to plants to create a safer consumable. | 4,90,970 |
| Consultant | Consulting and biotechnology firms look for people who are educated in Plant Pathology to aid them in creating a safer environment. With the world's growing interest in environmentally friendly or green technologies and applications, knowledge of Plant Pathology has become an increasingly sought-after trait. Plant Pathologists can work as consultants for many industries, leveraging their knowledge across a spectrum of areas. | 4,14,536 |
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