Course CodeBHT206Fee CodeS2Duration (approx)100 hoursQualificationTo obtain formal documentation the optional exam(s) must be completed which will incur an additional fee of £30. Alternatively, a letter of completion may be requested. Distance Learning Course in Plant Pathology Science Become skilled at diagnosing and understanding plant diseases. Enhance your career or job prospects in horticulture or farming Improve your ability to grow plants Understand the science of plant disease Plant production is reduced significantly every year, due to pathological problems. To control these problems is to increase productivity, and for the horticultural business; that means increased profit margins. PLANT PATHOLOGY IS NOT simply a study of pests & diseases. Some pests are in fact not pathological problems, and there are pathological problems which are not pests or diseases. PLANT PATHOLOGY is about problems in plants caused by physiological damage or irritation at a cellular level. It is concerned with problems which affect parts of the plant cell, leading to malfunctions in the normal processes which occur Lesson Structure There are 8 lessons in this course: Introduction Overview of plant disease Diagnosis of problems: nutritional, environmental, pathological Symptoms Common terminology Types of Diseases Morphological changes Necroses Hypoplasia's Hyperplasias Types of pathogens: viruses, bacteria, actinomycetes, fungi, nematodes Techniques for diagnosing plant diseases: optical equipment, preparing pathogens for observation, culture methods, inoculation, etc Plant viruses; detection and diagnosis Plant nematodes Case study: Australian plant nematodes Main types of diseases Spots Rots Cankers Galls Mildews Rusts Moulds Wilts Scabs Others Using a key to diagnose diseases in plants The Lifecycle of a Disease Inoculation Penetration Infection Growth and reproduction Dissemination Methods of penetration by bacteria and nematodes Lifecycle of nematodes Fungal biology Role of insect spreading fungal and bacterial pathogens Control Techniques Sanitation Resistant Plant Varieties Biological Controls Soil Drenches/dips Chemical Controls Nematicides Soil fumigants Contact poisons Fungicides and the environment Systemic fungicides Misters, dusters, blowers, sprayers' Spray maintenance and cleaning Natural controls: cultural, physical, biological, etc Terminology Selected Pathogen Diseases Ornamentals Fungi affecting turf Phytophthora cinnamomi The process of tree decay: Shigo Case study: how phytophthora cinnamomi kills a susceptible Eucalyptus Peach powdery mildew Rose powdery mildew Honey fungus on rhododendrons and azaleas Petal blight on rhododendrons and azaleas Selected Pathogen Diseases Crops Sclerotinia rot in vegetables Nematodes and citrus production Citrus diseases: scaly butt, lemon crinkle, citrus canker Brown rot Fire blight Apple fruit rot caused by trichoderma harzianum Prunus necrotic ringspot virus in cut flower roses Potato and tomato blight Club root Non-Infectious Diseases Nutritional disorders Lack of water Excess water Other environmental problems Disorders caused by man: mechanical damage, pollution Case Study: Air pollution Other disorders: genetic, disturbed growth Non parasitic turf problems Special Project Aims Describe a range of pathological problems that affect plants. Describe symptoms of a range of diseases that affect plants. Describe disease life cycles and explain how this knowledge can be applied in disease control Explain the methods used to control diseases Demonstrate a comprehensive knowledge of a particular plant pathogen. Identify and describe a range of non-infectious diseases and problems that affect plants Identify and describe a range of common pathogens that affect ornamental plants. Identify and describe a range of common pathogens that affect crop plants WHO IS THIS COURSE FOR? This course is ideally suited to people working in, or aspiring to work in: Horticultural science Horticulture research Agronomy Horticultural consultation Teaching Crop growing Fruit & vegetables Botanic gardens Parks & gardens Garden maintenance