Module BIOL3311: CROP PROTECTION (BE)

Department: Biological and Biomedical Sciences

BIOL3311: CROP PROTECTION (BE)

Prerequisites

• Molecular Biology BIOL2201, Biochemistry BIOL2191.

Corequisites

• None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None.

Aims

• To give the student a thorough understanding of the interactions between plants and their major pests and pathogens, with an emphasis on understanding those interactions at the molecular level.
• To outline how modern technology is developing new methods of protecting crops against pests and pathogens, and to set this new technology in the context of modern agriculture.
• To take the Biological Enterprise where students are introduced to the key processes of business start-up, whether as a new, free-standing business, or as a new venture within an existing organisation.
• To enhance students' enterprising skills and behaviours.

Content

• PLANT - INSECT INTERACTIONS
• Survey of pests and strategies
• The plant wounding response
• Insect adaptation to the wounding response
• Secondary metabolism and pests
• Insect adaptation to secondary metabolites
• Coevolution and balance
• PLANT - PATHOGEN INTERACTIONS
• Survey of fungal and bacterial pathogens
• Infection strategies
• Plant responses 1; gene-gene interactions
• Plant responses 2; non-host resistance
• Systemic acquired resistance and fungicides
• CROP RESISTANCE
• Molecular markers 1 - techniques
• Molecular markers 2 - QTLs
• Breeding and its limits
• Bt toxins and engineering insect resistance in GM crops
• Other GM technologies for insect resistance
• Prospects for pathogen resistance
• SUMMARY AND ASSIGNMENT
• Workshop style lecture
• PLANTS AND VIRUSES / NEMATODES
• Plant parasitic nematodes: life-cycles and effects on plants
• Plant parasitic nematodes: strategies for plant protection
• Plant viruses: genomes and infectivity
• Plant viruses: strategies for plant protection
• PLANT SIGNALLING MECHANISMS
• Plant signalling systems - Cold
• Plant signalling systems - Drought
• Plant signalling systems - Heat
• EFFECTS ON NON-TARGET ORGANISMS
• Overview of deployment of insect resistant GM crops

Learning Outcomes

• Describe the modular bases of interactions between plants and pathogens, and plants and pests, and how these interactions are kept in balance in nature.
• Appreciate how interactions are altered in an agricultural context.
• Understand how modern methods of biotechnology are being employed in the production of crops with inherent resistance to pests and pathogens.

• Understand how to plan for the launch of a new business venture and appreciate the challenges encountered.

• Preparation of reports and presentational materials; presentation of science to the public

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• Taught Component: Teaching and learning in this component is primarily through the means of lectures and seminars.
• Skills will be acquired through the searching, retrieval and presentation of data. Knowledge will be summatively assessed through a written examination.
• Understanding will be assessed by means of a data handling exercise during the module to enable students to utilise acquired knowledge in problem solving.
• Business Enterprise:Teaching and learning will be through short formal lectures and business workshops and simulations.
• Assessment will be by presentation of an externally assessed business plan and by individual SWOT analysis.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

Self-assessed problem solving exercises.

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University