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Anton De Bary - "FATHER OF PLANT PATHOLOGY" Anton De Bary proved that a fungus caused the disease rather than the well-accepted that the disease caused the fungus. This was with respect to the Potato famine in Ireland. For his work, De Bary recognized as the father of plant pathology.

A LITTLE HISTORY:

Why have myths and misunderstandings plagued arboriculture? The problem started in the mid-19th century when several important events happened about the same time. The repeated failure of the potato crop in Ireland caused by the fungus Phytophthora infestans, set off a large scale famine and migration. At this time, Anton De Bary proved that a fungus caused the disease rather than the well-accepted that the disease caused the fungus. At the same time as Louis Pasteur was winning the battle of the germ theory, Robert Hartig showed that fungi cause decay rather than the long held belief that decay causes fungi. For his work, De Bary recognized as the father of plant pathology. Hartig is recognized as the father of forest pathology. Hartig's great work set off a rushing stream of research on decay. Source: Arboriculture in the 21st Century by Dr. Alex L. Shigo.