Plant Pathology & Crop Protection

 Title of the Course :Plant Pathology & Crop Protection  

Nature of course :Core/Major-XII 

Code : BOT-C-12 

Total Credits 04 

Marks : 100 [End: 60 (Theory: 45, Pract: 15), In: 40] 

Course outcomes: 

1. Identify and describe major groups of plant pathogens 

2. Understand the biology, life cycles, and modes of action of various plant pathogens 3. Learn integrated disease management strategies, including cultural, biological,  chemical, and genetic approaches 

4. Analyze disease cycles and the influence of environmental conditions on disease  development.

 

Learning outcomes: 

1. Classify major groups of plant pathogens 

2. Describe the biology and life cycle of plant pathogens 

3. Explain the plant disease management strategies 

4. Evaluate disease cycles and development patterns 

Unit-1. (10 lectures) 

Phytopathology:Terms and concepts; General symptoms; Geographical distribution of  diseases; Etiology; Symptomology; Host-Pathogen relationships; Disease cycle and  environmental relation.

Unit 2. (12 lectures)

Prevention and control of plant diseases, and role of quarantine. Bacterial diseases – Citrus  canker and angular leaf spot of cotton. Viral diseases – Tobacco Mosaic viruses, Bhendi yellow  vein mosaic virus. Fungal diseases – Early blight of potato, Black stem rust of wheat, White  rust of crucifers. Diseases caused by phytoplasma-Little leaf of Brinjal 

Unit 3. (12 lectures)

Cultural methods of plant protection – Tillage, crop rotation, trap crops, fertilizer applications,  land fallowing, timely sowing, and proper soil selection. Mechanical methods – Field  sanitation, Hand picking, Destruction of infected plants/plant parts, Destruction of egg masses,  light traps, use of sticky bands, bagging for the pests, and Pheromone traps. Physical methods  – Heat and soil solarisation 

Unit 4. (11 lectures)

Chemical methods of plant protection –Definition, uses and examples of Bactericides,  Fungicides, Insecticides, Nematicides, Acaricides , Molluscicides and Rodenticides 

Biological methods – Definition, Important biocontrol agents. a) Fungi : ( Trichoderma,  Metarhizium, Verticillium ) b) Bacteria : Pseudomonas, Bacillus c) Insect : Crysopyrilla /  Trichogramma d) Virus 4c: Legal methods – Plant quarantine in India. 4d: Crop resistance – Uses of resistant varieties and their examples 

Lab activities 

1. Study of common plant diseases: 

Fungal diseases – Early blight of potato, Black stem rust of wheat, White rust of  crucifers, and other locally available diseases 

Bacterial diseases – Citrus canker and angular leaf spot of cotton and other locally  available diseases 

Viral disease- tobacco mosaic virus, Bhendi yellow vein mosaic virus 

2. Isolation of plant pathogen and establishment of Koch’s postulates. 

3. Study of plant origin and chemical pesticides. 

4. Preparation and submission of plant disease albums.