Agr, Lndscp & Envir: Plant Pathology

Introduction to the causes of agricultural and forest plant diseases including examination of the relationship of the plant, pathogen, and environment in disease development and disease management. Prerequisite: PBIO 1040, or BIOL 1400 and BIOL 1450, or BCOR 1400 and BCOR 1450, or BCOR 1425, or Instructor permission. Cross-listed with: PBIO 2170.

Prereqs enforced by the system: (BIOL 1400 and BIOL 1450) or (BCOR 1400 and BCOR 1450) or BCOR 1425 or PBIO 1040; Cross-listed with PBIO 2170, total combined enrollment = 40; Lab meets in rooms 100 and 101 Jeffords. Open to degree and PACE students

Plant Pathology (PBIO/ALE 2170) provides an introduction to the causes and prevention of plant disease, and examines the relationships between the plant, pathogen, and environment in disease development and in disease management. There is an accompanying lab where students will observe infected plant material and use microscopes to observe pathogen structures. Course outline: 1) examine and survey a wide range of pathogens (bacteria, fungi and oomycetes) on diverse plant hosts, and discuss the mechanisms pathogens use for stealing nutrients from and in many cases debilitating their plant hosts; 2) discuss plant responses to attempted infection, including how plants detect pathogens, activate defenses, and thwart disease development; 3) discuss the processes that lead to disease expansion and epidemics, and the methods for controlling disease, such as through cultural practices, cultivar selection, and organic and conventional fungicides. Throughout the course, we’ll consider the effects plant diseases have had on human health, culture, and the environment. We will discuss case studies from the scientific literature to add context to material discussed in lecture. Readings: The course textbook will be Plant Pathology; 6th Edition (George N. Agrios; 2024). some readings are from the primary literature.

Students are expected to complete the assigned readings prior to class, be prepared to discuss assigned readings, attend and participate in lecture, and be engaged in the laboratory. Students will work individually or in pairs to create a PowerPoint presentation and Fact sheet, which will be shared with the class. We will discuss Case studies from the primary literature, with students playing the major role in leading the discussions.

Students will be evaluated using 3-4 midterm exams, an oral presentation and written Disease Fact Sheet, lab sketchbook, literature discussions of case studies, lecture and lab participation.