Module Details

Module Code: AGRI8011
Title: Plant Pathogens and Pests
Long Title: Plant Pathogens and Pests
NFQ Level: Advanced
Valid From: Semester 1 - 2016/17 ( September 2016 )
Duration: 1 Semester
Credits: 5
Field of Study: 6210 - Agriculture
Module Delivered in: 1 programme(s)
Module Description: Discussion of the area of plant pathogens and pests relating to food, medicinal and ornamental crops is undertaken. Diverse control measures are discussed in light of Integrated Pest Management principles and the sustainable use directive used in conventional and organic systems of production.
 
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module the learner will be able to:
# Learning Outcome Description
LO1 Explore the main disease causing microbes.
LO2 Critique control of common diseases and pests affecting horticultural, medicinal and agricultural crops based on the sustainable use directive.
LO3 Evaluate the economic and ecological impact of crop disease on yield, quality and agronomic sustainability of field, protected and harvested crops.
LO4 Perform field and laboratory procedures towards identifying an unknown plant disease, pestilence or disorder
LO5 Investigate modern plant breeding responses to pest and disease resistance.
Dependencies
Module Recommendations

This is prior learning (or a practical skill) that is strongly recommended before enrolment in this module. You may enrol in this module if you have not acquired the recommended learning but you will have considerable difficulty in passing (i.e. achieving the learning outcomes of) the module. While the prior learning is expressed as named MTU module(s) it also allows for learning (in another module or modules) which is equivalent to the learning specified in the named module(s).
Incompatible Modules
These are modules which have learning outcomes that are too similar to the learning outcomes of this module. You may not earn additional credit for the same learning and therefore you may not enrol in this module if you have successfully completed any modules in the incompatible list.
No incompatible modules listed
Co-requisite Modules
No Co-requisite modules listed
Requirements

This is prior learning (or a practical skill) that is mandatory before enrolment in this module is allowed. You may not enrol on this module if you have not acquired the learning specified in this section.
No requirements listed
 
Indicative Content
Plant Pathogens
Groups, description and lifecycles of bacteria, fungi, viruses, viroids, virus-like organisms, phytoplasmas, protozoa, nematodes, hemiparasites and parasitic plants. Ascomycetes, Basidiomycetes. Oomycetes. Spores. Sexual vs. asextual reproduction. Host specificty. Bacteria pathogens. Xanthomonas, Pseudomonas and Erwinia genera. Bacteria pathogenicity factors of toxins, cell wall degrading enzymes, effector proteins, plant growth regulators and exopolysaccharides. Phytoplasma (MLO's)and spiroplasma. Viruses and Virus like organisms description, vectors.
Plant Diseases
Plant disease epidemiology. Description of symptoms and signs and control measures of crop pathogens: Broad and host specific pathogens, Mildews (Powdery and Downy), spots (leaves), Rusts, smuts, Blight, Wilts, Cankers, Sooty Moulds, Scabs, Galls, bulb, corm, tuber, flower, fruit, vegetable, foot, tree, shrub, stem, leaf and bud rots. Slime moulds. Post harvest disease of crops. Replant disease. Virus and virus like diseases description, identification, vectors and lifecycle. Difficulties in positive identification e.g. against disorders. Identification resources. Notifiable diseases. Control of environmental conditions favouring disease.
Fungicides, Insecticides & Biocides
Introduction to fungicides groups lists. Prophylaxis, chemotherapy and disinfection. Protectant, preventative or contact fungicides (Chlorobenzenes, Pthalonitriles, Dithiocarbamates, Organotin, Sulphur). Eradicant, curative or systemic fungicides and insecticides (MBC's, DMI group, Morpholine group, Organophosphates and phosphonates, Dicarboximides, Phenylamides). Safe fungicide and insecticide use. FRAC. Sustainable Use Directive. Integrated Pest & Crop Management. Biocides.
Plant Pests
Life cycle, ecology and sustainable IPM control measures: Slugs and snails; Whitefly (Trialeurodes, Aleyrodes); Aphids; Nematodes (Eelworms), Globodera, Ditylenchus, Aphelenchoides, Meloidogyne, Heterodera; Thrips (Thrips, Kathothrips, Heliothrips; Caterpillars; Mealybugs (Pseuadococcus, Trionymus); Mites (Tetranychus, Steneotarsonemus, Cecidophyopsis, Rhizoglyphus, Witches Broom); Birds; mammals; sawfly (Hoplocampa, Nematus); Wasps Paravespula and Gall (Biorhiza, Andricus); Capsid bugs (Calocoris); Psyllids (Psylla); Scale insects (Pulvinaria, Chionapsis).
Integrated Pest & Crop Management
History. Pest and pathogen resistance.Integration of methodologies in cultivation practices to minimise selected diseases and pests. Cultural, biological and chemical control. Quarantine. Host plant resistance. Acceptable pest levels. Prevention. Monitoring. Mechanical control. Responsible pesticide control. Pest identification, lifecycle knowledge, monitoring, action threshold establishment, economic yield and quality, combinations of control measures, and control evaluation. Conventional and Organic systems. Plant disease forcasting.
Economic Impact and Sustainability
Importance of sustainable sourcing of food and medicine in society. Global and national losses from pests and diseases. International, EU and national measurement of crops losses from pests and diseases and responses to crop losses from pests and diseases. Certification schemes, plant passports, quarantine, plant health organisations.
Modern Plant Breeding for Resistance
Conventional plant breeding process for disease and pest resistance. Cost evaluation of conventional breeding. Build up of pest and disease resistance to plant resistance. Modern breeding methods: GMO, mutation breeding. Use of improved plant resistance with IPM. Active and passive resistance.
Sustainable Use Directive (SUD)
History and development of the sustainable use directive philosophy. Health & Safety. Protection of environment and ecology. European Directive and Irish legal obligations under SUD. Integrated pest and crop management philosophies and methodology foundation of SUD. Record keeping and documentation. Pesticide delivery equipment. Knapsack, Tractor, drone and other spraying equipment and SUD regulations. pesticide supply regulation. Amateur users pesticides. Pesticide Advisors, Pesticide Distributors, Professional Users/Sprayer Operators and Inspectors of Pesticide Application Equipment. Communicating and training operators for SUD compliance.
Module Content & Assessment
Assessment Breakdown%
Coursework100.00%

Assessments

Coursework
Assessment Type Multiple Choice Questions % of Total Mark 25
Timing Week 8 Learning Outcomes 1,2,3,5
Assessment Description
Evaluation of knowledge and skills of employing the Sustainable Use Directive and integrated pest & crop management procedures
Assessment Type Short Answer Questions % of Total Mark 25
Timing Week 12 Learning Outcomes 1,2,3,4
Assessment Description
Knowledge of the common crop diseases and control measures
Assessment Type Practical/Skills Evaluation % of Total Mark 50
Timing Week 13 Learning Outcomes 1,2,4,5
Assessment Description
Laboratory and field methods of identification of diseases and pests of plant materials
No End of Module Formal Examination
Reassessment Requirement
Repeat examination
Reassessment of this module will consist of a repeat examination. It is possible that there will also be a requirement to be reassessed in a coursework element.

The University reserves the right to alter the nature and timings of assessment

 

Module Workload

Workload: Full Time
Workload Type Contact Type Workload Description Frequency Average Weekly Learner Workload Hours
Lecture Contact The world of plant pathogens and pests sustainable control Every Week 2.00 2
Lab Contact Field and laboratory assessment of plants with pathogens and pests Every Week 2.00 2
Lecturer Supervised Learning (Non-contact) Non Contact Review of literature and investigations of plant pathogens and pests Every Week 3.00 3
Total Hours 7.00
Total Weekly Learner Workload 7.00
Total Weekly Contact Hours 4.00
Workload: Part Time
Workload Type Contact Type Workload Description Frequency Average Weekly Learner Workload Hours
Lecture Contact Plant pathogens and pests sustainable control Every Week 2.00 2
Lab Contact Field and laboratory assessment of plants with pathogens and pests Every Second Week 2.00 4
Independent & Directed Learning (Non-contact) Non Contact Review of literature and investigations of plant pathogens and pests Every Week 3.00 3
Total Hours 9.00
Total Weekly Learner Workload 7.00
Total Weekly Contact Hours 4.00
 
Module Resources
Recommended Book Resources
  • Dov Prusky (Editor), Maria Lodovica Gullino (Editor). (2010), Post-harvest Pathology, First. Springer, p.211, [ISBN: 978-1402089299].
Supplementary Book Resources
  • Maria Lodovica Gullino and Peter J. M. Bonants. (2014), Detection and Diagnostics of Plant Pathogens (Plant Pathology in the 21st Century), Springer, p.200, [ISBN: 9401790191].
  • George Agrios. (2005), Plant pathology, 5th. Academic Press Inc, p.952, [ISBN: 978-0120445653].
  • Stefan Buczacki & Keith Harris. (1998), Pests, diseases & disorders of garden plants, HarperCollins, London, [ISBN: 9780002200639].
  • Robert Burns (Editor). (2009), Plant Pathology: Techniques and Protocols, Vol 508. Humana, USA, p.321, [ISBN: 9781588297990].
  • Aurelio Ciancio (Editor), K.G. Mukerji (Editor). (2010), Integrated Management of Arthropod Pests and Insect Borne Diseases, First. Springer, p.385, [ISBN: 9048124638].
  • David W. Parry. (1990), Plant pathology in agriculture, Cambridge University Press, [ISBN: 0521368901].
  • Richard N. Strange. (2003), Introduction to plant pathology, 1st. Wiley Blackwell, p.480, [ISBN: 978-0470849736].
  • Robert N. Trigiano (Editor), Mark T. Windham (Editor), Alan S. Windham (Editor). (2007), Plant Pathology Concepts and Laboratory Exercises, Second Edition, 2nd. CRC Press, p.576, [ISBN: 978-1420046694].
  • P. Vidhyasekaran. (2004), Concise encyclopedia of plant pathology, Food Products Press, New York, p.619, [ISBN: 1560229438].
  • N.G. Ravichandra. (2013), Fundamentals of Plant Pathology, Phi Learning, p.652, [ISBN: 812034703].
This module does not have any article/paper resources
Other Resources
 
Module Delivered in
Programme Code Programme Semester Delivery
CR_BHORT_7 Bachelor of Science in Horticulture 5 Mandatory