Plant Pathology: Academic Programs: Courses / Syllabi

PATH(ANTH) 2010 - Plants, Pathogens & People

From devastating famines to economic catastrophes, plant diseases have influenced societal development. Students will explore the historical socio-economic impacts of plant diseases. Students will be introduced to the evolution of plant pathology as a scientific discipline and informed of the threats that plant pathogens pose to our agricultural resources.

PATH Instructor: Ron Walcott
Credit hours: 2
Course Offered: Spring Semester, odd years

Duplicate Credit Statement

The course will not be open to students who have credit in the following courses:
PATH 2000 and PATH 2000H

Required Prerequisites

None

Course Objectives

On completion of this course, students should have an appreciation for the historical, anthropological and the socio- economic effects of plant disease epidemics and the organisms and environmental conditions that cause them. They should understand that plant disease epidemics are heavily dependent on environmental conditions and can be extremely destructive if unchecked. They should gain an appreciation for the different classes of organisms that cause plant diseases which contributes to the difficulty with preventing and managing outbreaks. Finally, they should understand that while plant disease epidemics are unpredictable and sometimes unavoidable, the degree of economic loss and suffering (e.g. famines) associated with these events depend upon the appropriateness of the response by the global community. This should make them aware of their responsibility, as members of the global community, to aid natural disaster victims. The general objective of this course is to expose students to the significant impacts plant diseases have had on our sociological and anthropological development. While the importance of securing adequate food supplies to sustain the world’s growing population is clear, many students do not appreciate the constant threats that are presented by plant disease-causing microorganisms. As future local, state and national decision makers, students must be aware of the efforts that are being expended to ensure safe and abundant plants and plant products for human consumption. To avoid making decisions similar to those that have led to disastrous plant disease epidemics, students must be reminded of the catastrophic lessons of the past. This course will present information on the major historical plant disease epidemics and factors (pathological, environmental and political) that contributed to them. Individuals will be informed of the cultural, political and religious impacts of plant diseases, the development of plant pathology as a discipline and the potential for severe disease epidemics under modern agricultural practices.

Topical Outline

• Topic 1. Importance of plants and the status of modern agriculture World food crisis Introduction to the biology of plant diseases
• Topic 2. Origin and history of Plant Pathology
• Topic 3. Ergot of rye - the link between ergotism and LSD The role of ergotism in the Salem witch trials
• Topic 4. Late blight of Potato Ireland before 1845 The Irish potato famine The role of the British in the famine
• Topic 5. Coffee rust - Why Britain became a nation of tea drinkers
• Topic 6. Bacteria as plant pathogens The Fisher-Smith Controversy Biography of Erwin Frink Smith - Father of phytobacteriology
• Topic 6. Plant Quarantine Act of 1912 - preventing the introduction fo plant pathogens Chestnut blight Citrus canker
• Topic 7. Viruses as plant pathogens TMV - the first virus
• Topic 8. The effects of modern agriculture on plant Diseases Monocultures - Dutch Elm Disease
• Topic 9. The Great Bengal Famine
• Topic 10. Southern corn leaf blight - the lessons of monocultures not learned
• Topic 11. Genetically modified crops - gift or curse
• Topic 12. Current disease threats Soybean rust, bacterial wilt, sudden oak death, karnal bunt
• Topic 13. Agro-terrorism: How safe is our food supply The threat of plant pathogens as weapons
• Topic 14. Future challenges of plant pathology - genetically modified disease resistance - restriction of pesticide use