The Department of Botany, Bacteriology, and Plant Pathology was created in 1924 by combining certain faculty of the College of Arts and Sciences and the Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station, at that time a part of the College of Agriculture. It rapidly grew from three faculty members to 13 by 1930. The department was divided in 1962 to form a new Microbiology Department, leaving a faculty of 25 in the department that became Botany and Plant Pathology. It was further reduced in size in 1970 when another split took place with the formation of the Department of Botany in the College of Arts and Sciences and the Department of Plant Pathology in the College of Agriculture. While Dr. W.J. Martin was department head (1977-82), the name of the department was changed to Plant Pathology and Crop Physiology to reflect more accurately the composition and responsibilities of the department. Also, the formation of the Agricultural Center established a dual administrative chain of command with teaching responsibilities in the College of Agriculture and research responsibilities in the Experiment Station.
From the description of Louisiana State University Department of Plant Pathology and Crop Physiology records, 1956-1992 (bulk 1956-1968). (Louisiana State University). WorldCat record id: 213470784
