Ecology and Epidemiology of Plant Diseases

Objective

To acquaint students with the concepts of ecology and plant disease epidemics.

Theory

Definition, history and development of epidemiology, principles and concepts; effect of different environmental factors on growth, reproduction and spread of plant pathogens; ecological and population dynamic studies of different plant pathogens; influence of meteorological factors, host resistance and human interceptions on the development of epidemics; survival and propagation of plant pathogens; mapping of epidemic growth, analysis of epidemic growth curve and calculation of growth rate; disease progression and pattern of spread in nature (spatial and temporal); loss estimation using prediction models; pathometery; pre-requisites, visual assessment methods, descriptive and logarithmic scales, standard diagrams, incidence severity relationship, remote sensing, video image analysis.

Practical

Studies on the role of factors affecting disease development; use of different techniques to create artificial epidemics in greenhouse or growth chamber; calculation of severity of diseases by different procedures to monitor epidemics; plotting the growth curve by using different transformation procedures; monitoring disease; establishing prediction systems and executing control measures; use of agri-meteorological equipments and information.

Recommended Books:

  1. Agrios, G.N. 2005. Plant Pathology. 5th Edition. Academic Press, New York.
  2. Campbell, C.L. and L.V. Madden.1990. Introduction to Plant Disease Epidemiology. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. New York.

3.Cooke, B.M., D.G. Jones and       B. Kaye. 2004. TheEpidemiology ofPlant Diseases. Springer Verlag, New York, USA.

  1. Frantzen, J. 2007. Epidemiology and Plant Ecology: Principles and Applications. World Scientific Publishing Company.
  2. Kranz, J. 1990. EpidemicsofPlantDiseases: MathematicalAnalysis and Modeling. Springer Verlag, New York, USA.
  3. Leonard, J.F. and D.A. Neher. 1997. Exercises in Plant Disease Epidemiology. American PhytopathologicalSociety Press, Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA.
  4. Zadoks,J.C.andR.D.Schein.1979. EpidemiologyandPlantDisease Management.  Oxford Univ. Press, London and New York, USA.

Assessment Methods:

Sessional

Mid Term

Final  Term

Practical

Total

8

12

20

20

60

Assignment (1)

 

 

 

 

Presentations (4)

 

 

 

 

Practicals/Field work (1)

 

 

 

 

Attendance (1)

 

 

 

 

Class Participation (1)

 

 

 

 

 Class Timings:

Tuesday 02:00-03:40 PM

Thursday 11:20 AM-01:00 PM

                                                            COURSE SCHEDULE

Week

Topics and Readings

1.

Introduction to the course

 

2.

Elements of an epidemic

 

 

3.

Host Factors that affect the development of disease epidemics

                                             

4.

Pathogen Factors that affect the development of disease epidemics

 

5.

Environmental Factors That affect the development of disease epidemics

 

6.

Effect of Human on the development of Plant Disease Epidemics

                                       

7.

Measurement of Plant Disease and Yield Loss

                     

8.

Patterns of Disease Epidemics

Comaprison of Disease Epidemics

Development of Epidemics
9.

Modelling of Plant Disease Epidemics

                                    

10.

Computer Simulation of Epidemics

 

11.

Forecasting of Plant Disease Epidemics

                                          

 12.

Molecular Tools and Geographic Information System

 

13.

Global Positioning System, Remote Sensing, Geostatistics and Image Analysis, Information Technology

 

14.

Forecast based on Initial and Secondary Analysis

 

15.

Risk Assessment, Disease Warning System, Decision Support Systems

16.

Revision of course and Presentations

Course Material

Other Courses by Dr. Muhammad Ahmad Zeshan