Department of Phytopathology

The Department of Phytopathology was founded in 1963. Professor Krastyu Krastev was the first head of department. Professor Alexander Hristov from the Higher Institute of Agriculture - Sofia was the first lecturer in phytopathology. At that time Ignat Tafradzijski, holder of a PhD degree, became the first assistant professor. Later, as a professor, he became a head of department and a vice rector. 

Some of the renown lecturers over the years are: prof. Stojtcho Karov, DSc (head of department and dean over the years); prof. Boris Nakov, DSc (head of department and head of the science and development sector over the years); assoc. prof. Petar Kotetzov, PhD; prof. George Neshev, DSc (vice dean and vice rector over the years). 

After the establishment of the Faculty of Plant Protection in Plovdiv, the professors of phytopathology from the Higher Institute of Agriculture - Sofia joined the department: prof. Nikola Mitov, PhD; prof. Vasil Bogdanov, PhD; prof. Atanas Popov, DSs (vice rector over the years); assoc. prof. Liliya Beleva, PhD; assoc. prof. Maria Georgieva, PhD; assoc. prof. Irina Kutova, PhD; assistant professor Stoyan Kotev, PhD.

Both the Department of Phytopathology and the Department of Entomology are basic and leading units within the structure of the Faculty of Plant Protection and Agroecology. Members of the department until 2022 were professor DSc Svetoslav Bobev (deputy dean and head of doctoral students at the moment), chief assistant professor Kamelia Sakakusheva, associate professor Dr. Dimitriyka Sakalieva (deputy dean), chief Assistant Dr. Maria Vitanova. At present at the Department of Phytopathology work following full time lecturers: prof. Mariana Nakova, DSc, (head of department up to date), assoc. prof. Milena Dimova, PhD; assoc. prof. Neshka Piperkova, PhD; chief assistant professor Zvezdomir Gelev, PhD; chief assistant professor Katya Vasileva, PhD; assistant professor Martin Marinov and assistant professor Hristina Cheradzieva,  and one chief expert – Mrs. Atanaska Ilieva-Shopova. The staff  members have defended one dissertation for the scientific degree "Doctors of Science" and four dissertations - for "PhD".

The department provides training of undergraduate students enrolled in Bachelor`s, Master`s and PhD degree programmes. 
Many PhD students have successfully defended their theses in the department – Bulgarian nationals as well as international students from Cuba, Egypt, Nigeria, Costa Rica, Greece, Sweden, Yemen, etc.

At the department, the following compulsory courses are studied on the "Bachelor" level:

• General phytopathology for the Bachelors’ in Plant Protection and Agronomy (Field Farming);
• Diseases on field crops for the Bachelors’ in Plant Protection;
• Diseases on vegetable and perennial crops for the Bachelors’ in Plant Protection; 
• Special phytopathology for the Bachelors’ in Agronomy (Field Farming);
• Phytopathology for the Bachelors’ in Agronomy (Decorative horticulture and landscaping);
• Diseases and pests in green systems for the Bachelors’ in Ecology;
• Diseases of agricultural crops for the Bachelors’ in Agronomy (Horticulture and biological production); 
• Pest and disease forecasting and signaling in agricultural crops for the Bachelors’ in Plant Protection; 
• Plant quarantine for the Bachelors’ in Plant Protection; 

At the department are taught following courses for the Masters’ students: 

• Plant virology;
• Plant bacteriology; 
• Special phytopathology;
• Diseases of agricultural crops;
• Pest and disease forecasting and signaling in agricultural crops;
• Plant quarantine;
• Phytosanitary monitoring and expertise;
• Integrated pest management;
• Diseases and pests during storage of products and materials;
• Plant protection for the M.Sc. in:
  • Production of seed and planting material; 
  • Viticulture and enology; 
  • Fruit growing - production and production management;  
  • Decorative plants and landscape design; 
  • Plant production; 
  • Plant breeding and seed production.

A number of scientific and applied technologies have been developed by the department`s academic staff. Lecturers have also been working on different projects funded by national and European programmes: two TEMPUS projects – one for the  the establishment of the ecology profile of the faculty  and the second one for adapting the university programs to European standards and MSc programme development.  The department`s lecturers are active participants in the Erasmus Mobility Programme having long-term relationships with universities in Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Norway, etc. The mobility of incoming and outcoming students is strongly supported by the academic staff.

The teachers of the department have specialized in Universities of Europe, USA, Israel. They participate in research projects financed by European institutions (7th framework program, COST, See-Era, etc.) and by Bulgarian scientific funds and institutions. Two projects have been implemented with the America for Bulgaria Foundation and a Center for Integrated Management of Plant Diseases has been built.

The department`s academic staff offers consultancy and expertise to external clients and companies in solving phytosanitary problems of all major agricultural crops, as well in the development of IPM and biological agriculture technologies.