Department of Plant Pathology

The Department of Horticulture, Arboriculture, and Botany moved to the newly constructed Primrose Hall.

The Biological Division was created with coursework devoted entirely to plant pathology.

Dr. Frank L. Stevens, an instructor in the biology department, taught the first course devoted exclusively to plant diseases.

Dr. Frank L. Stevens published the first North Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station bulletin describing tobacco plant disease Granville wilt.

Plant pathology curriculum was taught within the Department of Botany.

Genetics curriculum was taught as a component of coursework in the agronomy, zoology, and plant pathology departments.

A plant pathology section was created within the School of Agriculture, and a new Department of Botany and Plant Pathology was created.

Jensen established the Pesticide School in 1949 and brought together representatives of agricultural chemicals industry and research and extension workers.

Plant Pathology graduate Thomas E. Smith and E. E. Clayton of the North Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station released Oxford 26, which was the first commercial variety of tobacco with resistance to the Granville wilt bacterium.

In 1948, J. H. Jensen took a year of absence to conduct a special research project for the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, examining the use of atomic energy in biology and agriculture and the effects of radiation upon plants and animals. C. J. Nusbaum stepped in as acting head of the Plant Pathology section in his absence.

The Division of Biological Sciences was created, and plant pathology was the largest of five units.

The Plant Disease Clinic was established in the Department of Plant Pathology as a diagnostic clinic for farmers and gardeners in North Carolina, processing plant specimens sent by mail or in person for immediate disease control recommendations. In 1970, the clinic was renamed the Plant Disease and Insect Clinic after bringing on scientists from the Department of Entomology.

Dr. J. N. Sasser, a plant pathology PhD graduate from NC State, joined the faculty in plant pathology in 1953 as a researcher in nematology. His research contributed to the reputation of the NC State Plant Pathology Department as an international center for graduate education and research in nematology.

C. J. Nusbaum's research in nematode-incited diseases of tobacco and other crops inspired the North Carolina State Legislature to fund a special laboratory, greenhouse, and personnel for research. The Nematode Assay Service was created by the NC Department of Agriculture in 1953.

T. B. Lal of India was the first international graduate student to earn a master's degree in Plant Pathology.

D. E. Ellis served as head of the faculty of plant pathology in the Division of Biological Sciences, and became head of the Plant Pathology Department when it was established in 1958.

Hedwig Hirschmann, born in Fuerth, Germany, was the first woman instructor of plant pathology and the fourth woman hired as a professor at NC State. She was hired as a instructor in 1954, and advanced to full professor in 1967. Hirschmann married fellow plant pathology faculty member Anastasios Triantaphyllou in 1960 and taught at NC State until 1992. She is widely recognized for her research in nematode taxonomy.

Dr. Arthur Kelman, professor of plant pathology, received an award after being voted the most outstanding professor in the School of Agriculture at the first annual Agronomy Club Banquet.

The fourth and fifth women hired as full professors at NC State were appointed. Hedwig Hirschmann Triantaphyllou advanced to full professor of plant pathology and Emily Quinn Pugh became a full professor of adult education.

Nannette Smith Henderson was the first African American woman awarded a PhD at NC State with a degree in plant pathology.

Dr. Aycock joined the plant pathology faculty at NC State in 1955 and replaced Donald E. Ellis as head of the department in 1973.

Plant pathology professor and nematologist J. N. Sasser was awarded a grant from the US Agency for International Development (USAID), which led to the development of the International Meloidogyne Project in 1981. The project involved the cooperation of more than 100 scientists from over 70 developing countries to increase yields of food crops through research into the biology and management of root-knot nematodes.

William L. Klarman became the head of Department of Plant Pathology in 1984. Dr. Klarman became Vice Chancellor for Research at North Carolina State University in 1990.

Entomology merged with the Department of Plant Pathology and became a program within the newly created Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology.