Plant Pathology: Academic Programs: Courses / Syllabi

PATH 3530 - Introductory Plant Pathology

Principles and concepts of plant pathology, including disease development, environmental interactions, microbial biology and life cycles, and disease control strategies. Broad concepts rather than diagnosis and control of specific diseases.

Instructors - Harald Scherm (Spring, odd yrs), Jim Noe (Spring even yrs), Elizabeth Little (Fall)
Credit Hours - 3 (two lectures and one 2-hour lab period)
Course Offered - Fall and Spring Semesters

Prerequisite:

(PBIO 1210-1210L and PBIO 1220-1220L) or (BIOL 1103-1103L and BIOL 1104-1104L) or (BIOL 1107-1107L and BIOL 1108-1108L).

Course objectives:

To provide students an introduction to principles and concepts of plant pathology, including disease development, environmental interactions, microbial biology and ecology, disease cycles, and disease control strategies. The emphasis is on teaching broad concepts and principles, not on describing specific disease diagnosis and control recommendations. Plant disease examples are selected to illustrate concepts and principles, and not to provide specific crop or crop-production area information.

Topical outline:

I. Introduction
   A. Principles, classification, and terminology
   B. Concepts of parasitism
   C. Principles of disease control

II. Diseases caused by fungi
   A. Introduction to mycology
   B. Diseases caused by Oomycetes
   C. Diseases caused by Ascomycetes/ Deuteromycetes
   D. Diseases caused by Basidiomycetes

III. Diseases caused by bacteria
   A. Introduction to bacteriology
   B. Studies of specific bacterial diseases
   C. Studies of specific mycoplasma diseases

IV. Diseases caused by viruses
   A. Introduction to virology
   B. Studies of specific virus diseases

V. Plant-parasitic nematodes
   A. Introduction to nematology
   B. Studies of specific nematode/plant associations

University Honor Code and Academic Honesty Policy:

Assistance in completing course assignments is allowed only if specifically authorized by the instructor. Any form of academic dishonesty or use of unauthorized assistance may result in assignment of a grade of F for the course.