COURSE OUTLINE                                                                                        Fall 2020-21

Course Title:                Mycology-I       

Course Code:               PLPT-7101

Credit Hours:               3(2-1)

Instructor:                    Dr. Salman Ahmad

Email:                          [email protected]

To study taxonomy and nomenclature of fungi and fungi-like organisms of agricultural importance. The kingdom Protista and its significance and systematic position and distinguishing characters of the genera of Plasmodiophoromycota in nomenclature will provide detail information on fungal systematics. Furthermore, importance and life cycle of plant pathogens from different classifications especially the life cycles of Plasmodiophora, Spongospora, Peronosporales, Sclerosporales and Pythiales groups are the main focus of this course. The important characters and classification of oomycota will provide comprehensive details of Oomycetes. The biological features of Chytridials and Synchytrium and evolution of orders into new phyla are also the focus of this course. During the practical, collection, preservation and identification of mycological specimens and use of key for identification of fungi is the main concern of the course. Moreover, keys for the identification of different fungi is also included in the course. The students will be able to identify and classify the fungi at the end of the course.

At the completion of the course the students will be able to understand:

1. Taxonomy and nomenclature of fungi and fungi-like organisms of agricultural importance.
2. To identify and classify the fungi at the end of the course.

Theory

1. Evolution of classification of Fungi and Fungi-like organisms: the Six Kingdom System
2. Kingdom Protista: Significance, general characteristics and systematic position of Myxomycota, Plasmodiophoromycota, Acrasiomycota and Dictyosteliomycota. Distinguishing characters of the genera of Plasmodiophoromycota
3. Life cycles of Plasmodiophora and Spongospora
4. Kingdom Straminopila: Importance, morphology, biology, taxonomy and nomenclature of Hyphochytridiomycota, Labyrinthulomycota and Oomycota
5. Important characters and classification of Oomycota up to orders and families level
6. Importance and life cycles of plant pathogens in Peronosporales, Sclerosporales and Pythiales
7. Kingdom Fungi: General characters, importance and classification up to phyla. Chytridiomycota General Characteristics and classification up to orders level
8. Biology of Synchytrium. Evolution of orders into new phyla

Practical

1. Collection, preservation, culturing and identification of mycological specimens with special reference to taxa of agricultural importance
2. Use of keys for identification

1. Webster, J., & Weber, R.W.S (2007). Introduction to Fungi.  Cambridge University Press, UK.
2. Kirk, P.M., Stalpers, J.A., Minter, D.W., & Cannon, P.F. (2011). Dictionary of fungi (10th ed.). UK, CABI.
3. Lemke, P.A., & Esser, K. (2001). The Mycota, Volume VII, Systematics and Evolution, Part A. Singapore, Springer.
4. Kimatu, J.N. (2018). Advances in Plant Pathology. Switzerland, Intech Open.
5. Liliane, E.P., & Petrini, O. (2013). Identifying Moulds: A Practical Guide. UK, Science Publishers.

1. Archiascomycetes, their orders and agricultural importance.
2. Hemiascomycetes, their families and agricultural importance.
3. Plectomycetes, their orders and agricultural importance.