Upon completion of the course, students will have learned and comprehended the plant defense mechanisms, the host-pathogen interactions affecting resistance and the principles and methods (classical and molecular-biotechnological) of improving plant resistance to pathogens. In addition, they will have become familiar with breeding methods of vegetables propagated asexually (artichoke, garlic, onion species, etc.) and by seed (autogamous: tomato, lettuce, pepper and allogamous: cucumber, pumpkin, melon, watermelon, cauliflower, cabbage, onion, turnip).