The American Phytopathological Society (APS) is an international scientific organization devoted to the study of

plant diseases Plant diseases are diseases in plants caused by pathogens (infectious organisms) and environmental conditions (physiological factors). Organisms that cause infectious disease include fungi, oomycetes, bacteria, viruses, viroids, virus-like orga ...

(phytopathology). APS promotes the advancement of modern concepts in the science of plant pathology and in plant health management in

agricultural Agriculture encompasses crop and livestock production, aquaculture, and forestry for food and non-food products. Agriculture was a key factor in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created f ...

, urban and

forest A forest is an ecosystem characterized by a dense ecological community, community of trees. Hundreds of definitions of forest are used throughout the world, incorporating factors such as tree density, tree height, land use, legal standing, ...

settings. The Society has nearly 5,000 plant pathologists and scientists worldwide. It is the oldest and largest organization of its type in the world. It is also a member of the

International Society for Plant Pathology The International Society for Plant Pathology is a global nonprofit institution dedicated to ''“promoting world-wide plant health and food security.”'' It was founded in 1968 and the first President of the society was the pioneer British ...

. APS provides information on the latest developments and research advances in plant health science through its journals and its publishing arm, APS Press. APS advocates and participates in the exchange of plant health information with public policy makers and the larger scientific community, and it provides advice on education and training.

History

The society was founded in December 1908 by a group led by

Cornelius Lott Shear Cornelius Lott Shear (March 26, 1865 February 2, 1956) was an American mycology, mycologist and plant pathologist who served as a senior pathologist at the USDA Bureau of Plant Industry. Born in Coeyman's Hollow, Albany County, New York, on Mar ...

. The first regular meeting was held in December 1909. It was the first scientific organization in the world to be devoted exclusively to phytopathology. In 1929, its Canadian Phytopathological division was spun off into an independent organization, the

Canadian Phytopathological Society Canadians () are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of their being ''C ...

Journals

The society began publishing scientific peer-reviewed research in 1911 and today publishes five journals in the area of plant pathology: * ''Phytopathology'' * ''

Plant Disease Plant diseases are diseases in plants caused by pathogens (infectious organisms) and environmental conditions (physiological factors). Organisms that cause infectious disease include fungi, oomycetes, bacteria, viruses, viroids, virus-like or ...

'' * ''Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions'' * ''Plant Health Progress'' * ''Plant Health Instructor'' * ''Phytobiomes Journal''

Awards

The society gives a number of awards, designated by the

National Research Council (United States) The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM), also known as the National Academies, is a congressionally chartered organization that serves as the collective scientific national academy of the United States. The name i ...

as "prestigious." *Ruth Allen Award has been given since 1966 to outstanding researchers in plant pathology. The award is named after Ruth F. Allen 1879–1963, a researcher in rust fungi and the first woman to receive a PhD in botany from the University of Wisconsin. It is distinct from the Ruth Allen Award established in 2005 by the Pipeline Industries Guild, named for an engineering professor at the University of Exeter. *William Boright Hewitt and Maybelle Ellen Ball Hewitt Award is given within 5 years after a PhD for innovative research or activities on control of plant disease. *Lee M. Hutchins Award is given for research on perennial fruit plants' diseases. *Noel T. Keen Award is given for research on molecular plant pathology.

References

External links

APS Home Page

APS Education Center

APS Journals

Plant Management Network
{{authority control Microbiology societies 1908 establishments in the United States Phytopathology Learned societies of the United States