Introduction

The comprehensive research work of Anton De Bary (1831-1888) and his students on smuts and rusts, downy mildew of different crops and potato late blight, became an important landmark and stimulated research on several destructive crop diseases, which led to the development of plant pathology as a distinct branch of science. De Bary became a world-renowned scientist and attracted students from various countries. No wonder he is regarded as the Father of Plant Pathology. His unique contributions laid the foundation for the development of modern investigations during the 20th century into pathogenic microbes causing a variety of crop diseases (Horsfall and Cowling, 1977).