Aims of the module
To examine the principles that underlie the management of diseases, pests and weeds and to provide a framework for the development of control strategies in crop production.

Learning outcomes
On completion of this modules, students will be able to:

i) assess disease, pest and weed severity and estimate effects on yield;

ii) understand the genetic basis for disease resistance and the potential for exploiting resistance;

iii) evaluate integrated strategies for disease, pest and weed control.

Syllabus / Curriculum design
The lectures deal with the broad areas of disease, pest and weed management: disease development and basic epidemiology; disease/yield loss relationships; plant disease resistance and its exploitation; disease management strategies - integration of cultural, chemical, physical and plant resistance approaches; pests and the damage they cause, pest management strategies, including biological control; weed competition; weed biology - strategies for reproduction, spread, survival and competitive ability; herbicide use; non-chemical approaches to weed control; chemical application technology. The practicals consider disease assessment techniques and weed identification.