The earliest references to plant diseases can be found in ancient texts, although they were often
understood in terms of superstitions and spiritual phenomena. In ancient Egypt, around 1500
BCE, the "Ebers Papyrus," one of the oldest medical texts, mentions plant diseases, especially
those affecting crops. The Greeks, particularly Theophrastus (circa 371–287 BCE), considered
the father of botany, made early observations on plant diseases. However, their understanding
was limited to visible symptoms and did not recognize the underlying causes of the diseases.
During this period, plant disease was often attributed to gods or natural elements, and remedies
were more based on folklore than scientific methods.