The Plant Pathology department is responsible for:

• Research on the nature, biology, ecology and economic implications of current and potential diseases of sugarcane.
• Devising acceptable and safe disease control strategies and practices.
• Screening varieties against important sugarcane diseases.
• Producing and disseminating accurate data and information on sugarcane diseases.
• Monitoring disease levels in the Zimbabwe Sugarcane Industry.
• Promoting planting of disease-free and varietally pure material through the Seed cane Certification Scheme.
• Offering a plant disease diagnostic service.