The Department of Plant Protection covers the fields of entomology, phytopathology and herbology. The scientific-research activity of the Department of Plant Protection is conducted separately in each scientific field, as well as combined. The research activities include examining the pest morphology, biology and ecology, disease symptomatology and epidemiology, plant damages caused by causal agents and various control methods of insects, mites, diseases and weeds. Studies have also focused on the emergence and determination of new quarantine plant pests and their adaptation to new conditions because of global climate change.
The staff at the Department of Plant Protection teaches the study programme Organic and biodynamic plant production, which includes several subjects at the second cycle of studies.
In terms of professional-applicative activities, in accordance with the legal regulations and the authorization of the Institute of Agriculture by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy, the staff at the Department of Plant Protection carries out health examinations of seed crops and planting material of all types of plant crops. As part of the Phytosanitary monitoring program of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy, the staff at the department is also involved in monitoring of Priority quarantine harmful pests.
The Department conducts biological and physical-chemical tests on pesticides. The professional staff prepares specialized-applicative projects, offers services to agricultural producers on the basis of business-technical collaborative agreements for the preparation of plant protection plans and offers expert advice and solutions to problems related to pests, diseases and weeds, prepares opinions and reports of expertise.
The Department of Plant Protection has at its disposal an experimental greenhouse with an area of 100 m2 in Skopje. Within the Department, there is also the Laboratory for serological and molecular diagnostics of diseases and pests of plants, which is involved in developing the scientific-research and applicative activities of the department.
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