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Kursplan

PLS0060 Växtskyddsbiologi, 7,0 Hp

Ämnen

Biologi

Utbildningens nivå

Forskarnivå

Förkunskapskrav

PhD students interested in e.g. (agro)ecology, entomology, plant breeding, plant molecular biology, nematology, mycology, plant protection, plant pathology, IPP/IPM, pest/pathogen and plant interactions.

Mål

The increasing environmental awareness, to some extent induced by the increasing number of reports on global climate change, has and will have a large impact on management of future cropping systems, especially concerning plant protection. The overall objective of this course is to give PhD students from different subject areas (e.g. ecology, entomology, nematology, plant breeding, molecular biology etc.) a deeper understanding of challenges and constraints in relation to modern plant protection in different systems. Learning outcome: By studying the biological aspects of plant protection - the natural system vs the cultivated system, plant defence, ecology/biology of the pests and pathogens, pest/pathogen-plant interactions, molecular mechanisms, pest/pathogen management methods and strategies - the students will, in addition to their own specialization, get a broad scientific basis for current and future work in relation to development of environmentally sustainable plant protection methods. They will become familiar with the latest results and trends within plant protection that will allow them to evaluate their own research in a broader perspective. Furthermore, influences and inputs from related fields may create new ideas, inspire to new approaches in ongoing projects. Whether, after finishing their PhD, the students stay in science or move on to other careers at e.g. private companies or national boards for agriculture or similar institutions, a broad knowledge of plant protection will be valuable.

Innehåll

The aim of the course is to bring together PhD students from different backgrounds (biology, agronomy, horticulture etc.) working on plant protection related areas. To account for the expected diversity of student backgrounds and to make sure that they are on a comparable scientific level in the management strategy discussions, some lectures in the beginning will be devoted to introducing the fundamental aspects of the topic. The lecturers will be asked to give a brief basic introduction to the subject area and then to move on and end with the latest results (will also be discussed during the afternoon literature seminars). The following topics will be dealt with during the course: A comparison of the natural system and the cultivated system - why do different organisms become pests? Plant defence, resistance biology and breeding. Pests and pathogens (especially insects, nematodes, fungus, oomycetes) - ecology/population dynamics, life cycle etc. - some typical examples from each group. Crop loss assessment and presentation of different management methods, e.g. biological and chemical control, resistance breeding, molecular tools, chemical ecology/pheromones etc. Development of management strategies based on the different methods that are at hand - examples from different cropping systems - agriculture, horticulture and forest. Specific challenges in relation to global climate change.

Ytterligare information

Pedagogical approach

It is important that the students take active part in their own learning. Therefore they will do a ’case study’ that will be presented both orally - where all students should participate actively in the discussions - and as a written report. The work should be done in groups to profit from the different expertise of the PhD students in the discussions and development of management strategies. In addition they will get a chance to practice oral presentation when they present their own research. The literature seminars will give them an opportunity to read recent and relevant literature (papers selected by the lecturers and handed out before the course) and to discuss - in smaller groups - with each other and experienced scientists (the lecturers) within the subject area.

Ansvarig institution/motsvarande

Institutionen för växtskyddsbiologi