Description | Lecture Topics | Lab Topics | Disease Notebook | Texts | Other Infor
General Introduction
- Semester: every Fall
- Prerequisites: Biology 1105 and 1106, or 1005 and 1006, or equivalent.
- Instructor: Dr. Anton Baudoin
Introduction to plant pathology as a science and a crop protection discipline. Plant disease diagnosis, biology and identification of plant disease causing agents, factors leading to disease build-up, and management of plant diseases. Diseases of specific crops will be studied as examples.
The course contains 3 sections:
- Lecture, on general principles
- Laboratory exercises on techniques, diagnosis, etc.
- Guided self-study of diseases of crops of interest to individual students.
- Overview of plant pathology; plant disease definition; crop losses; pathogenic agents.
- Plant disease diagnosis: principles (Koch's postulates) and practical procedures
- Disease symptoms, and what they tell us about causes
- Disease development; life cycles and disease cycles
- Overview of methods of plant disease control
- Fungal plant pathogens: characteristics, classification, identification
- Soilborne diseases caused by fungi
- Foliar diseases caused by fungi
- Prokaryotes: characteristics, classification, identification
- Plant diseases caused by bacteria
- Plant diseases caused by fastidious prokaryotes
- Plant viruses and viroids: characteristics, classification, identification, transmission, and control
- Plant diseases caused by viruses and viroids
- Plant nematodes: characteristics, classification, identification, problem detection, and control
- Plant diseases caused by nematodes
- Diagnosis of abiotic conditions that cause plant "diseases" (or disorders)
- Miscellaneous plant pathogens: protozoa, algae, higher plants
- Physiological aspects: pathogen weaponry and plant defense
- Plant disease management -- a general approach
- Plant disease resistance: development, characteristics (genetics), and use.
- Epidemiology and plant disease control
- The role of chemicals in plant disease management; when and how to use
- Plant disease control -- summary
- Microscope use; symptoms and signs, fungal vs. bacterial
- Symptoms and signs; diagnosis
- Pathogen culturing: media preparation, sterile technique, isolation
- Study of fungi, the diseases they cause, and the structures by which they can be diagnosed:
- Lower fungi and Oomycetes: Phytophthora, Pythium, downy mildews
- Ascomycetes and Imperfect fungi
- Basidiomycetes
- Damping off
- Fungal foliar infection, anthracnose, rust
- Fungicides, protectant and systemic
- Bacterial diseases and pathogens: recognition, diagnosis
- Koch's postulates
- Viruses and the diseases they cause: diagnosis, transmission
- Nematodes: sampling, elutriation, identification
- Nematodes: root knot and cyst
- Diagnosis of unknown specimens.
Disease of specific crops (Disease Notebook)
Students (individually or in small groups) engage in self-study of diseases of crops that are important to THEM. Student performance will be evaluated based on individual notebooks and an oral exam. Examples of study areas:
- Golf course turf, plus some woody ornamentals
- Landscape woody ornamentals, bedding plants, some turf
- Greenhouse production
- Nursery ornamental production
- Fruits and/or vegetables
- Field crops
- etc., including combinations
Studies could involve the following activities:
- Preparing a NOTEBOOK, based on literature material (reference books, extension publications, etc.) and results of the activities below
- Collecting and diagnosing fresh disease specimens
- Diagnosing clinic specimens and preserved specimens
- Attending occasional presentations by guest specialists
- Field trips, organized and/or informal
- Interviewing crop pathology experts, growers
- Required: LABORATORY MANUAL AND LECTURE SUPPLEMENTS FOR PLANT PATHOLOGY -- PPWS 3104 can be purchased at the University Bookstore or the Tech Bookstore.
- Recommended: Agrios, G. N. 2005 (5th edition) PLANT PATHOLOGY. Academic Press.
Link to Baudoin's course materials