The aim is to teach the general characteristics of biotic (fungal, bacterial, viral, etc.) and abiotic (non-living) disease agents and weeds that cause economic damage to medicinal and aromatic plants; the symptoms, biological cycles, and damage patterns of these agents on host plants; and the morphology, biology, and damage patterns of insects, mites, and other animal pests that cause economic losses. Within the framework of Integrated Crop Management (IPM) principles, the goal is to develop the ability to plan sustainable/integrated control methods against these diseases, pests, and weeds using a holistic approach, in accordance with cultural, biological, physical, and organic farming regulations, by conducting a comparative analysis of alternative and sustainable control methods.

The course covers the fundamental principles of plant pathology and the components of the disease triangle; classification of abiotic and biotic disease agents; life cycle, symptomatology, and diagnostic methods in plant diseases; weed biology and its effects on plant production; morphology, biology, and damage patterns of insects, mites, and other animal pests causing significant economic losses in medicinal and aromatic plants; integrated pest management (IPM) strategies; and specific diseases, pests, and control methods observed in important medicinal and aromatic plants such as roses, sage, basil, mint, thyme, anise, and hops.