Horticulture identifies different aspects and methods involved in plant cultivation. Plant pathology analyses the diseases in plants due to the infection of pest or pathogens. Changes in environment also cause infection in plants.

B.Sc Horticulture

Bachelor degree in Horticulture makes students aware about the different aspects of plant propagation and plant cultivation. The subject also deals with fields of

• Crop Production
• Genetic Engineering In Plants
• Plant Biochemistry
• Plant Breeding
• Plant Physiology

Horticulturists experiments and conducts research in all the above specified areas. They work in these areas of horticulture to improve quality and nutritional value of crops. All these activities involved in horticulture increases crop yield and improve resistance to insects and pests. Agriculture is a major source of income of our economy and so horticulturists play a very crucial role in improving the GDP of the country.

Some of the specialized fields included in horticulture are -

• Arboriculture
• Floriculture
• Landscape horticulture
• Olericulture
• Pomology
• Viticulture
• Post harvest physiology

Horticulturists can look for job opportunities in public, private, educational institutions etc. They can find job option such as -

• Cropping systems engineers
• Wholesale or retail business managers
• Propagators and tissue culture specialists
• Crop inspectors
• Crop production advisers
• Extension specialists
• Plant breeders
• Research scientists
• Teachers

B Sc Plant Pathology

The Bachelor degree in Pathology studies the impact of infectious diseases caused by Pathogens in Plants. The subject also deals with the identification of such diseases, its impact on humans, as well as economic impacts. The subject includes study on disease cycle in plants and epidemiology. The various pathogens which causes these diseases includes fungi, nematodes, viruses etc

Some of its specialized fields in pathology are -

• Entomology
• Nematology
• Weed Sciences

Employment opportunities for graduates in Plant Pathology are available in areas of

• Administration
• Extension
• Private Practice
• Product Development
• Regulatory Work
• Research
• Sales
• Teaching

Key Difference between B Sc Horticulture and B Sc Plant Pathology

• B Sc Horticulture has its applications in research so as to improve production and yield of crops. BSc Plant Pathology makes students aware about the approaches meant to identify and control diseases in plants.
• The area of application of both the sciences is on different aspects of plants. So the job opportunities arising in these courses are also different.
• B Sc Horticulture deals with crop productivity in plants where as B Sc Plant Pathology deals with plant health

Which course is better?

Those who are interested in plant cultivation can go with the Bachelor degree in horticulture where as those who are interested in identification and treatment of plant diseases can opt for a bachelor degree in plant pathology. As both these are emerging fields there exist a lot of job openings in this sector. More over today our economic system gives much importance to agriculture and agriculture products. So compensation package for skillful aspirants in both the fields is also higher.