| Department of Plant Biology
80 % Department of Natural Sciences 20 % | |||||||||||||||
| Earliest Possible Year | BSc. 3 year to MSc. 2 year | ||||||||||||||
| Duration | One block | ||||||||||||||
| Credits | 7.5 (ECTS) | ||||||||||||||
| Course Level | Joint BSc and MSc The course is not part of the regular curriculum of the Bt, NR or AD education, but serves as an important specialisation. | ||||||||||||||
| Examination | Continuous Assessment written examination and oral examination Portfolio Examination All aids allowed Description of Examination: Oral examination based on presentation of the theoretical projects. From a total of four projects three have to be submitted and will form the basis for the assessment. Weight: Portfolio 50% Oral exam 50% 13-point scale, internal examiner | ||||||||||||||
| Organisation of Teaching | Lectures, Journal clubs and Theoretical projects. Topics for projects and Journal clubs 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 education | ||||||||||||||
| Block Placement | Block 1 Week Structure: A We do not preclude the possibility of including simple ad hoc practical projects in the course | ||||||||||||||
| Teaching Language | English | ||||||||||||||
| No Credit Points With | Replaces parts of "Disease Resistance in Plants", "Molecular and Physiological Plant Pathology", "Plant Virology" and "Research topic in Disease Resistance" | ||||||||||||||
| Optional Prerequisites | "Plant Diseases" or "Microbial interactions" | ||||||||||||||
| Areas of Competence the Course Will Address | |||||||||||||||
| Competences obtain within basic science: . Knowledge of the mechanisms by which plants respond and protect themselves against pathogens and pests. . Knowledge of cellular signal transduction mechanisms and an understanding of how these are studied . An understanding of the tools used by pests and pathogens for overcoming host defences . An ability to interpret primary data from research articles relating to these interactions and apply the knowledge to new situations Competences obtain within applied science: . An understanding of the potential of biotechnological and plant breeding technologies for developing resistant plants Competence obtained within Ethics and Values: . Student should be aware of the ethical aspects of the use of different approaches for pest and disease problems associated with plant protection. | |||||||||||||||
| Course Objectives | |||||||||||||||
| The course aims at understanding the biology of plant-pathogen interactions in the postgenomic era The molecular biology of diseases caused by viruses, bacterial & fungal pathogens The pathogen & pest-activated defence responses of plants Genetic & biochemical basis of resistance Elicitation & signal transduction pathways Manipulation of the host by the pathogen Transgenic & 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 arthropods and nematodes. The rapid development of biotechnology of plants is leading to enhanced knowledge of the physiology of plants. It is therefore expected that new strategies for resistance will be designed and implemented and therefore 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. Topics covered include: . An introduction to organism biology, bacterial pathogenicity and pathogenicity mutants. Fungal Pathogenicity: toxins, tissue destruction, biotrophy and necrotrophy. Virus and insect (arthropod?) life cycles. (David B. Collinge, Mari-Anne Newman, Jens Kvist Nielsen & Ole Søgaard Lund) . Biochemical basis of plant defences, resistance and susceptibility to pests including secondary metabolites, insecticidal and antimicrobial proteins. (Niels Agerbirk, David B. Collinge Mari-Anne Newman, Jens Kvist Nielsen) . Genetic basis of disease resistance. Hypersensitive reactions. (David B. Collinge & Ole Søgaard Lund) . Induced resistance, Elicitation and Signal transduction pathways. Mutants in Arabidopsis: how to understand signal transduction pathways in plant defences. Genomics and microarrays. (David B. Collinge, Mari-Anne Newman) . Counter adaptations The pathogen fights back: suppressors (Niels Agerbirk & Mari-Anne Newman) . Perspectives: Towards pest and disease resistance through transgenic plants, new strategies for resistance breeding etc. | |||||||||||||||
| 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 include writing essays e.g. on (1) similarities and differences between host reponses to pathogens and insects (2) is sustainable pest/pahogen resistance achievable through transgenic strategies? | |||||||||||||||
| Course Litterature | |||||||||||||||
| M. Dickinson. Molecular Plant Pathology, Bios: London and New York:2003. 256 pages. ISBN: 1859960448 LM Schoonhoven, T. Jermy & JJA van Loon: Insect-Plant Biology. From Physiology to evolution. Chapman and Hall 1998. 401 pp. ISBN 0 412 80480 8 (Hb) 0 412 58700 9 (Pb). Plus review articles and primary literature in the form of a comendium. | |||||||||||||||
| 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 | |||||||||||||||
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