| Department of Plant Biology
70 % Department of Natural Sciences 30 % | |||||||||||||||
| Earliest Possible Year | BSc. 3 year to MSc. 2 year | ||||||||||||||
| Duration | One block | ||||||||||||||
| Credits | 7.5 (ECTS) | ||||||||||||||
| Course Level | Joint BSc and MSc This course serves as an important specialisation for Bt, NR or AD students | ||||||||||||||
| Examination | Continuous Assessment written examination Written Exam in Lecturehall All aids allowed Description of Examination: Continuous assessment based on presentation of papers, multiple choice, essays (a total of five set short tasks) Written exam: Questions/answers based on the curriculum (2 hours) Weight: Continuous assessment 40% Written exam 60% 7-point scale, internal examiner Dates of Exam: 26 January 2008 | ||||||||||||||
| Organisation of Teaching | Lectures, journal clubs, colloquia, exercises and essays. Topics for essays and colloquia will be adjusted to the BSc. and MSc. levels, respectively. This course needs to be open at both levels since it is aimed at all, NR, Bt and AD educations | ||||||||||||||
| Block Placement | Block 2 Week Structure: C | ||||||||||||||
| Teaching Language | English | ||||||||||||||
| Optional Prerequisites | I. Genetics 1 or a similar genetics course, II. Biochemistry 1 or Microbiology or The Chemistry of Life. III. Background knowledge of plant pathology would be useful, but is not required in order to follow the course. | ||||||||||||||
| Restrictions | None | ||||||||||||||
| Areas of Competence the Course Will Address | |||||||||||||||
| Competences obtained within basic science: € Knowledge of the mechanisms by which plants respond and protect themselves against pathogens and pests. € Knowledge of cellular signal transduction mechanisms? € An understanding of the mechanisms used by pests and pathogens for overcoming host defences € An understanding of how the above topics are studied experimentally € An ability to interpret primary data from research articles relating to these interactions and apply the knowledge to new situations Competences obtained within applied science: € An understanding of the potential of biotechnological and plant breeding technologies for developing disease and pest resistant plants Competence obtained within Ethics and Values: € Student should be aware of the ethical aspects of the use of different approaches (eg. transgenic) for pest and disease problems associated with plant protection. | |||||||||||||||
| Course Objectives | |||||||||||||||
| The course aims at understanding the biology of plant-pathogen interactions and plant-pest interactions at the molecular level, including: The molecular biology of diseases caused by viruses, bacterial & fungal pathogens The pathogen & pest-activated defence responses of plants The biochemical basis of resistance Genetic regulation of resistance Elicitation & signal transduction pathways Manipulation of the host by the pathogen Transgenic & molecular breeding strategies for disease & pest resistance | |||||||||||||||
| Course Contents | |||||||||||||||
| Pests and Plant diseases caused by pathogenic micro-organisms are among the most important factors affecting quality and yield of crop plants. Resistance is a biological and environmentally-friendly form of plant protection depending on natural, biological defence in plants against pathogenic micro-organisms and pests, such as insects, mites and nematodes. The rapid development of biotechnology in plant science is leading to enhanced knowledge of the physiology of plants. It is to be expected that new strategies for resistance will be designed and implemented and lead to a significant reduction in the use of chemical agents for disease control in agricultural and horticultural practice. It is therefore essential that biotechnology, agriculture and horticulture graduates have a clear understanding of the biology of host-pathogen interactions at the molecular level. Topics covered include: € Organism biology, bacterial pathogenicity and pathogenicity mutants. Fungal Pathogenicity: toxins, tissue destruction, biotrophy and necrotrophy. Virus and nutritional requirements and feeding strategies of pests such as insects, mites and nematodes. € Molecular and biochemical basis of plant defences, resistance and susceptibility to pests including secondary metabolites, insecticidal and antimicrobial proteins. Pest and disease resistance through transgenic plants, new strategies for resistance breeding. € Genetic basis of disease resistance. Hypersensitive reactions. € Induced resistance, Elicitation and Signal transduction pathways. Mutants in Arabidopsis: how to understand signal transduction pathways in plant defences. Genomics and microarrays. € Counter adaptations: suppressors and detoxification of secondary metabolites. This course complements: Plant Infection and Disease Management (250031) which is offered in block 1 | |||||||||||||||
| Teaching And Learning Methods | |||||||||||||||
| General lectures will introduce the topics which then are focused on with colloquia and theoretical exercises. Primary literature forms the basis for the colloquia (group discussions) and written questions are provided which guide the student to the key issues and through the important techniques used. Theoretical exercises and possibly a limited number of laboratory exercises will supplement the teaching. In most weeks short task will be set, these include writing a short essay, multiple choice test, journal club presentations etc. These tasks will form the basis of the continuous evaluation. | |||||||||||||||
| Learning Outcome | |||||||||||||||
| Stipulated in "Areas of Competence the Course Will Address" | |||||||||||||||
| Course Litterature | |||||||||||||||
| Note: Preliminary suggestion. The final choice of literature will be announced a week before the course starts. M. Dickinson. Molecular Plant Pathology, Bios: London and New York: 2003. 256 pages. ISBN: 1859960448 Schoonhoven, L.M., van Loon, J.J.A. & Dicke, M. (2005). Insect-Plant Biology, 2nd ed., Oxford University Press, 421 pp. ISBN 0 412 80480 8 (Hb) 0 412 58700 9 (Pb). Plus review articles and primary literature. | |||||||||||||||
| Course Coordinator | |||||||||||||||
| Mari-Anne Newman, mari@life.ku.dk, Department of Plant Biology/Plant Pathology Section, Phone: 35333303 | |||||||||||||||
| Study Board | |||||||||||||||
| Study Committee NSN | |||||||||||||||
| Course Scope | |||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||