PLNT3570
Professor: Dr. Dilantha Fernando Tel: 474-6072 Room 205 Plant Science E-Mail: D_Fernando@umanitoba.ca
Lab Instructor: Victoria Gauthier (Masters candidate) Tel: 474-6073 Plant Sci. E-Mail: umgauthv@cc.umanitoba.ca
Lecture days and times: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10.00 – 11.20 am Room 218 Plant Science Lab days and times: Wednesdays 2.30 – 5.30 pm Room 343 Faculty of Agriculture |
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This course is an introduction to the science of plant pathology. Topics include causal agents of plant diseases, symptoms and diagnoses, modes of infection and spread, effects of the environment on disease development, and methods of disease control. This course will offer a sound background for undergraduate students who may want to further their studies in plant pathology, molecular plant pathology, breeding or mycology majors, or do post graduate studies leading to Masters and Doctoral degrees. The students will be introduced to economically important diseases in the prairies they may encounter on crop plants and horticultural trees, the causal organisms, reproductive structures, and how environment and the host could contribute to the success of a pathogen and its infection process. The course will also cover plant’s defense mechanisms, and conventional and novel control strategies practiced in plant disease management with some emphasis on molecular tools that are presently in use to understand these mechanisms and phenomena.
Pre-requisite: BOTN 2210 (or 001.221) Biology of Fungi and Lichens Class Material Covered:
Text (Required): Plant Pathology (Fifth Edition) by G.N. Agrios (from BookStore) Text (Optional): Diseases of Field Crops in Canada (Third Edition) by Bailey et al. Journals: Phytopathology, Plant Disease, Can. J Plant Pathology, Plant Pathology
Examinations: a) Mid-term exam.....20% (IN CLASS EXAM: to be determined) b) Class participation...20% b) Lab reports...........15% c) Lab Final exam….15% c) Final exam............30% (To be scheduled) Class Participation (worth 20%): Each student will be given a topic to cover in a period of 1.5 hours (one lecture) in the early period of the course. The grade will depend on the effort the student has put to make a good presentation (power point), the content of the slides, and on the accuracy of the information. Students are encouraged to share other material related to their topic covered with the class. Each student should bring over the powerpoint presentation to the professor at least one week before class so he can go through and see if the material is appropriate and change/add if necessary. Students are also encouraged to give a few important examples of human pathogens that belong to the organisms that they cover, so we see parallels/differences in human diseases and plant diseases. The topics will be:
We will have a “lottery Draw” to select and assign the topics.
Missing mid-term and/or lab assignments and exam: A grade of 0 (zero) will be assigned to any student who misses an exam without a valid reason or without the consent of the professor (all exams) and instructor (lab assignments). See detailed description on how and when lab assignments should be handed (in lab outline). No rescheduling of an examination will be allowed, regardless of the circumstances. Those who miss the examination (with a valid reason) will have their final exam accounting for 30% (final exam) + the value of the missed examinations.
Plagiarism and cheating: Refer to the University of Manitoba General Calendar regarding the definition and penalties associated with impersonations, cheating and plagiarism.
Feedback: Feedback will be given to students following the mid-term exam and prior to the voluntary withdrawal of March 19, 2009.
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PLNT3570 |
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Laboratory schedule*
*The schedule will be followed as much as possible. However, this schedule is not set in stone.
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