Plant Pathology: Academic Programs: Courses / Syllabi

PATH 8310-8310L - Epidemiology of Plant Diseases

Factors altering the course of disease epidemics in plant populations. Techniques for qualitative and quantitative measures of such factors will be emphasized.

Instructor - Katherine Stevenson
Credit Hours - 3 (Two lectures and one 3-hour lab period)
Course Offered - spring semester of odd-numbered years

PREREQUISITE

PATH 3530-3530L

COURSE OBJECTIVES OR EXPECTED LEARNING OUTCOMES

1. Provide students with basic understanding of epidemiological theory and concepts
2. Introduce students to equipment and techniques used in epidemiological research
3. Demonstrate the practical applications of epidemiology in plant disease management
4. Identify current areas of epidemiological research
5. Promote critical scientific thinking through discussion of epidemiological literature

TOPICAL OUTLINE

I. Basic Concepts in Plant Disease Epidemiology

A. Measurement of Disease
     Attributes of disease
     Assessment of disease
     Incidence/severity relationships

B. Disease Progress in Time
     Simple models of disease progress
     Comparison of epidemics
     Complex disease progress models

C. Disease Progress in Space
     Disease gradients
     Spatial patterns of disease and inoculum
     Variability and sampling considerations; interplot interference

II. Factors that Influence Disease Development

A. Pathogen aspects
     Inoculum: dispersal and distribution
     Aerially dispersed pathogens and foliar disease
     Vector dynamics
     Soilborne pathogens
     Genetic variability
     Fitness and selection
     Fungicide resistance
     Pathogenic races

B. Host aspects
     Plant growth
     Tissue/organ susceptibility
     Host resistance
     Components
     Durability

C. Environmental aspects
     Effects of environment on epidemics
     Aerial micrometeorology
     Edaphic factors
     Meteorological variables and their measurement

III. Epidemiology and Disease Management

A.  Strategies
     Reduce initial inoculum
     Reduce rate of epidemic development
     Reduce duration of epidemic

B. Tactics for reducing initial inoculum
     Avoidance; exclusion
     Treatment of seed/planting stock
     Treatment of soil
     Cultural practices
     Biological control

C. Tactics for reducing the rate of epidemic development
     Host resistance
     Pesticides
     Environmental manipulation

D. Tactics for reducing the duration of epidemic development
     Cultural practices

IV. Epidemiology in Agroecosystems

A. Crop loss assessment
    Components of loss
     Assessment techniques

B. Economic impact of disease; thresholds

C. Decision making in disease management
     Disease Forecasting
     Modeling and simulation
     Decision aids

UNIVERSITY HONOR CODE AND ACADEMIC HONESTY POLICY

Students are expected to maintain the highest standards of academic honesty and integrity in every phase of their academic careers.
All academic work must meet the standards contained in "A Culture of Honesty". Each student is responsible to inform themselves about those standards before performing any academic work.
The penalties for academic dishonesty are severe and ignorance is not an acceptable defense.
Penalties for academic dishonesty:
- A notation on your transcript
- Suspension for a semester
- Permanent expulsion