All programmes > Plant Disease Biology and Management

Plant Disease Biology and Management (B-KUL-I0U88A)

5 ECTSEnglish46 Second term
De Coninck Barbara
POC Master Bio-ingenieurswetenschappen

Aims

Plants are in close contact with a wide variety of different organisms, including bacteria, fungi, oomycetes, viruses, insects and nematodes, many of which have the potential to cause disease leading to severe crop losses. Nevertheless, since plants developed efficient defense strategies to ward off pathogenic organisms, plant disease is the exception rather than the rule.

The general objective of this course is to provide the students with an overview of the general principles of plant pathology and disease management:

  • To gain knowledge into the factors that lead to development of plant diseases
  • To get familiar with the different micro-organisms that can cause disease in plants
  • To be able to recognize some important diseases in plants
  • To gain insight in the different aspects of the plant-pathogen interaction
  • To get familiar with the different strategies that are commonly used to control plant diseases

Previous knowledge

A fundamental knowledge of (micro)biology and agronomy is expected.

Identical courses

This course is identical to the following courses:
I0P61B : Integrated Pest Management in Tropical Agrosystems (No longer offered this academic year)
I0W19A : Plant Disease Biology and Management (No longer offered this academic year)
I0V44A : Integrated Pest Management in the (Sub)Tropics (No longer offered this academic year)

Is included in these courses of study

Activities

5 ects. Plant Disease Biology and Management (B-KUL-I0U88a)

5 ECTSEnglishFormat: Lecture46 Second term
De Coninck Barbara
POC Master Bio-ingenieurswetenschappen

Content

In the first part, focus will be on basic concepts and terminology related to plant pathology. The different factors that are required for pathogens and plants to result in disease will be discussed.

In the second part, students will gain in-depth knowledge on the different organisms that cause disease in plants including bacteria, fungi, oomycetes, viruses, insects and nematodes. Examples of pathogens causing disease in both temperate as well as tropical regions will be discussed.

In the third part, we will have a closer look at the interaction between pathogens and plants; which strategies of pathogenicity are known and how a plant recognizes and responds to pathogen attack.

In a fourth part, the most important management strategies to prevent or limit damage and yield loss caused by the most important pathogens to agricultural crops are discussed, with an emphasis on integrated pest management (IPM).

Finally, students will individually carry out a case study on an economically important plant-pathogen interaction in which above mentioned general and in-depth knowledge needs to be implemented. Students will need to write a report and give a presentation on their case study.

Course material

PowerPoint presentations

Format: more information

In addition to the lectures, students will individually carry out a case study on an economically important plant-pathogen interaction. Students will need to write a report and give a presentation on their case study.

Evaluation

Evaluation: Plant Disease Biology and Management (B-KUL-I2U88a)

Type : Partial or continuous assessment with (final) exam during the examination period
Description of evaluation : Written, Paper/Project, Presentation
Type of questions : Open questions
Learning material : None

Explanation


The evaluation consists of:

  • A report and presentation (5/20)
  • Final examination at the end of the semester (15/20)

If students did not finalize their report and presentation they can still take the final examination, however, they will already lose 5 points.

Information about retaking exams

Marks of the report and presentation will be transferred to the second examination. Students will not be able to make a new report and presentation.