Mycology and Plant Pathology was established since the time Prof. Mundkur was heading the Department in early 50's. Later on major contribution was from Late Prof S.D. Patil who worked on various aspects of Mycology such as Genus Synchitrium (S.D.Patil).

His team members studied various aspects as Myxomycetes by Dr. Vijay Ranade and Dr. Mishra; Nematophagus fungi by Dr. Pendese, Rust fungi by Dr. Mrs. Kanchan Gandhe; Smut fungi by Dr. Ravi Gandhe while his co- workers concentrated on Fungi of Raigad District studied by Dr. P. G. Joshee and Dr. J. G. Vaidya. In aquatic hyphomycetes fungi, Dr. B. N. Kulkarni contributed his part; Soil fungi by Dr. Mrs. Kale. Aquatic fungi by Dr. B. P. Kapadnis. Flora of Ganeshkhind by Dr. Mugdum and many more were the followers of Dr. S.D. Patil. The other team headed by Dr. Mrs. L. N. Nair worked especially on soil fungi, airborne fungi, coprophillous fungi, Mycorrhizal fungi, Industrial effluent associated fungi, Ascomycetous fungi etc.

Now the research facility is lead by Late Dr. J.G. Vaidya and Dr. (Mrs) P.K.Jite The research team lead by Late Dr. J. G. Vaidya mainly concentrates on wood rotting aphyllophorales, from the western ghats of Maharashtra. More than 200 species have been identified and listed from the region, divided in groups as Poroid and Non Poroid aphyllophorales. For last decade new aspect has been subsequently developed by this group is Folk Medicinal utilization of some aphyllophorales, especially 'Phansomba' (species of Phellinus). Dr. Mrs. Charuta Naik - Vaidya, Dr. Arvind Rabba, Dr. Manjit Nanda had worked on the taxonomic and diversity aspect from the western ghat, while Mr. Prasad Lamrood worked on the phytochemical studies. Dr. Nasser under his guidance initiated the bioassay of mushrooms by studying anti- microbial activity of the samples.

Mr. Shekhar Bhosle is working on local species of Ganoderma for their medicinal potential and Phellinus species for phytochemical, cultural, Natural product isolation and for their bioassay comprising both in vitro and in vivo studies (cell line as well as animal assay). Another aspect of bioassay is recently set up for free racical scavenging and anti oxidant activity of Phellinus species and some other local mushrooms by Mr. Ali. where Mr. Sharifi is currently engaged in bioassay guided isolation of anti microbial compounds form couple of Ganoderma species. A study of road site and park trees diseases is undertaken by Mr. Forutan. Mrs. Gauri Bapat is working on the cultural characteristics, optimization of submerged media for production of bioactive compounds in Phellinus. Ms. Sandhya Garad screening various solid substrates for optimum Biomass and bioactive compound production by local Ganoderma strains.

The research team lead by Dr. (Mrs.) P.K.Jite mainly concentrates on fungal physiology which includes Hormonal and Biochemical alterations in plants infected with various pathogens is being carried out extensively. Hyperauxin has been reported in Acacia leucophloea plants infected with Hapalophragniopsis ponderosa by Manisha Dharmadhikari and Jasminum grandiflorum infected with Uromyces hobsonii.by Tressa Jacoab.Work on Capsicum and Mentha treated with mycorrhiza is also being carried out and the various physiological and biochemical parameters are studied by Hemalata Patil. Effect of Mycorrhiza on tissue cultured plants of promising results and the percent survival of such plants during the hardening stage is quite high as compared to the control (untreated) plants.

By Manisha Kotwal. Work on Lichen-forming fungi-isolation of mycobiont and study of secondary metabolites (novel compounds) produced by such mycobionts has led to the isolation of large numbers of depsides and depsidones, which are pharmaceutically very important. Is also being carried out by Sangeeta Panchal and Sangameshwar Swami.Various species of dermatophytes have been isolated and the axenic cultures are maintained by Anjali Tripathi.

The research facility has till date produced students who are working in feilds like Industry (Mushroom, Production manager), Research (associate) and Academic, abroad as well as in India. The facility promotes applied as well basic research. The facility has undertaken projects funded by agencies like, UGC, CSIR, DST etc. Currently Dr. A. C. Kamble is working on Molecular aspects of Host Pathogen Interaction.