Plant Health and Improvement

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2015:

Sixty hours contact time; 60 hours directed study, assessment and readings (total 170 hours)

208-293 Plant Growth Processes, or equivalent

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

This subject outlines the methods used to identify pathogens causing plant diseases, the consequences of diseases for plant productivity; and plant breeding techniques used to identify and capture plant traits within populations. The links between these two areas are explored as plant breeders and pathologists seek novel genetic material capable of resisting or tolerating plant pathogens. Topics covered include:
• taxonomy, identification and biology of the main groups of plant pathogens and abiotic causes of plant diseases;
• host pathogen relationships, and the nature of disease resistance and pathogenesis;
• methods to identify pathogens, and development of tools for diagnosis,
• the processes leading to plant disease epidemics and their evaluation;
• principles and methodology of plant breeding for disease resistance;
• evolutionary processes and genetic variability of plant and pathogen populations;
• world-wide distribution and conservation of plant genetic resources;
• methods of breeding self– and cross-pollinating plants;
• the management and integrated control of plant diseases.
Practical work includes the identification and diagnosis of common diseases; and the development of skills in research techniques and methodology in plant pathology.

On completion of this subject, students will:
• understand the importance of genetic resources;
• understand the principles and methodology of plant breeding and improvement;
• be familiar with the biology and taxonomy of the major biotic causes of disease;
• be aware of the factors leading to disease epidemics;
• be capable of diagnosing common diseases of agricultural and horticultural crops; and
• be able to formulate a practicable approach to integrated disease control in commercial plant species.

Two-hour end-of-semester examination worth 40% of final marks; a one-hour mid-semester examination worth 30% of final marks; and a 1,000 word assignment comprising a collection of plant diseases worth 30% of final marks due at the end of semester.

G. N. Agrios 2005. Plant Pathology. 5th ed. Academic Press, Harcourt/Academic Press, USA.

G.L. Schumann & C.J. D’Arcy. 2010 Essential Plant Pathology 2nd Ed. American Phytopathological Society Press, USA

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

On completion of this subject, students should have developed their:
• Capacity to tackle unfamiliar problems;
• Ability to integrate knowledge from different disciplines;
• Communication skills, through written and oral presentations;
• Quantitative analysis skills; and
• Sense of intellectual curiosity