Argyle captain Paul Wotton's late penalty secured a draw against the club that Sturrock took from the Third Division to the Championship by way of two promotions in three seasons at the start of the decade.
Wotton fired home after Frankie Simek had tangled with David Norris to level Argyle midfielder Akos Buzsaky's bizarre headed own goal midway through the first half.
David Graham played in Lee Peacock, who drew Argyle goalkeeper Romain Larrieu and crossed towards Chris Brunt.
The cross fell short and Buzsaky was well placed to clear, despite facing his own goal, but, under no pressure, he miscued and headed straight into the unguarded net.
The Hungarian international nearly made immediate amends after Nick Chadwick found him at the far post but he lifted the chance over the crossbar.
The home side were unlucky not to level either side of the interval. Buzsaky unleashed a right-foot shot from 35 yards that flashed across the goal but the ball smacked against the far post and rebounded to safety.
Chadwick also hit the woodwork in the opening stages of the second half after Mathias Doumbe's close-range shot was blocked by Graeme Lee and ballooned up to him. With the goal at his mercy, his header hit the crossbar.
The match also marked an emotional return to Plymouth for Wednesday centre-back Graham Coughlan, who captained his new side against a club whose supporters voted him into the All-time Argyle XI and who was still with Argyle in pre-season.
Sturrock, too, was affected to be back at the ground where he enjoyed so much success.
"The best result for me this season would be if I was able to come back here next season and be speaking to you like this again," he told reporters.
"That would mean both sides have stayed up and would be good for me professionally and personally."