title: Contributions of plant scientists to the development of the germ theory of disease.
abstract: Investigations demonstrating the causal role of microbes in diseases of plants were completed decades before Pasteur and Koch presented conclusive evidence in support of the germ theory of disease in man and animals. The limited recognition of these and other contributions in understanding the nature of plant diseases has delayed recognition of the commonality that exists among pathogens in general and mechanisms of pathogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Pathology, Box 7616, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-7616, USA. arthur_kelman@ncsu.edu
authors.forename: Arthur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kelman
authors.forename: Paul D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Peterson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001901:Botany / Q000266:history*; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D008829:Microbiology / Q000266:history*; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000266:history* / Q000382:microbiology; D010944:Plants / Q000382:microbiology