Syllabus

BI1044 Plant pathology, 15.0 Credits

Subjects

Education cycle

Modules

Advanced study in the main field

Grading scale

Language

Prior knowledge

Objectives

After completion of the course the students should be able to:

• comprehensively describe and compare the organisms that cause disease on plants (including their biology and taxonomic relationships)

• explain the ecological basis for studying plant diseases

• explain the interactions between plants, plant pathogens and their environment on a variety of integration levels from cells to communities.

• analyse the development of plant diseases using population dynamics and epidemiological principles, correlate this development to different regulating factors such as climate, cultural techniques and other organisms in the agricultural or production landscape, and apply this information to reduce damage to crops and plants in different systems.

• search for and evaluate information within the subject area and to present this information both in written and oral form.

Content

The course covers fungi, bacteria, virus, and nematodes (and other plant disease causing entities) as organisms and their interactions with plants. This includes:

• Definition of terms and concepts in plant pathology

• Identification of diseases as well as diagnosis of damage

• Identification of pathogens

• Interactions between plants and pathogens – infection processes, signaling, defense, biological interactions

• Population dynamics, epidemiology, and forecasting

• Loss due to diseases—quality, food safety aspects (mycotoxins), quantitative losses, post-harvest losses, economical aspects of plant disease.

• Life cycles/disease cycles and environmental requirements in relation to interactions between plants and their pathogens.

• Ecological principles of disease control

• Management strategies for control of diseases

• Different aspects of disease control such as ecological principles, management strategies, (including cultural practices, host plant resistance, and use of pesticides) and legislation.

• Physiological damage and nutritional deficiencies

• Evolutionary processes in plant pathosystems

• Diseases in natural pathosystems

• Nature conservation, legislation, and international aspects.

Literature searching, oral and written presentations, and problem solving serve as an introduction to the masters programme in Plant biology.

Grading form

Formats and requirements for examination

Approved oral or written examination and approved laboratory and exercise reports. Participation in compulsory elements.

• If a student has failed an examination, the examiner has the right to issue supplementary assignments. This applies if it is possible and there are grounds to do so.
• The examiner can provide an adapted assessment to students entitled to study support for students with disabilities following a decision by the university. Examiners may also issue an adapted examination or provide an alternative way for the students to take the exam.
• If this syllabus is withdrawn, SLU may introduce transitional provisions for examining students admitted based on this syllabus and who have not yet passed the course.
• For the examination of a degree project (independent project), the examiner may also allow the student to add supplemental information after the deadline for submission. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.

Other information

• The right to participate in teaching and/or supervision only applies for the course instance the student was admitted to and registered on.

• If there are special reasons, students are entitled to participate in components with compulsory attendance when the course is given again. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.

Responsible department

Department of Forest Mycology and Plant Pathology

Cooperating departments: