Module BIOL3321: CROP PROTECTION (L)

Department: Biological and Biomedical Sciences

BIOL3321: CROP PROTECTION (L)

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 conduct a supervised investigation of an area within Biological Sciences where knowledge obtained by laboratory experimentation is important.

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.

• Skills related to carrying out, recording and reporting a programme of research based on laboratory experimentation

• Acquire, interpret and critically analyse experimental and field data and present the results effectively.

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.
• Project Component: Teaching and learning in this component is primarily through supervised individual laboratory work.
• Skills will be acquired through advanced practical work and through the searching, retrieval and presentation of relevant data.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

■ 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