Department of Biology & Biochemistry, Unit Catalogue 2008/09 |
BB20032 Plant symbiosis & pathology |
| Credits: 6 |
| Level: Intermediate |
| Semester: 1 |
| Assessment: EX 80%, PR 20% |
| Requisites: |
| Before taking this unit you must take BB10157 |
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Aims & Learning Objectives: Aims: To understand how plant health and disease are influenced by the way plants interact with microorganisms, with one another and their physical surroundings in natural and cultivated environments, with a view to developing sound management practice. To understand the biology and control of the major groups of fungal and bacterial plant pathogens. To introduce the physiological, biochemical and molecular basis of host-parasite interactions. After taking this course the student should be able to: * develop a balanced, all-round perspective of plant health and disease that can inform practical approaches to environmental and crop management * name the major groups of fungal and bacterial plant pathogens and describe their key biological features and methods of control * understand the molecular and biochemical basis of host-pathogen interactions * describe the modes of action of key fungicides. Content: "Ecological relationships" including: concepts of plant health and disease, modes of interactions between plants and other organisms as complex systems, epiphytes and endophytes; patterns and process of decay in trees; mycorrhizas; parasitic plants; human influences on plant health. Pathogen major groups and life cycles. Epidemiology. Control strategies to include, biological control, resistant host genotypes, fungicides; fungicide groups and modes of action. Strategies for pathogenicity and modes of nutrition: necrotrophy, biotrophy, microbial pathogenicity and virulence factors. Host resistance mechanisms: constitutive and induced structures and antimicrobial compounds; resistance genes and hypersensitive reactions. |