Module Identifier | BS32020 | ||
Module Title | PLANT INTERACTIONS WITH PESTS AND PATHOGENS | ||
Academic Year | 2002/2003 | ||
Co-ordinator | Dr Luis A J Mur | ||
Semester | Semester 2 | ||
Other staff | Dr Gareth W Griffith, Dr Ian M Scott, Dr Paul Kenton | ||
Pre-Requisite | |||
Course delivery | Lecture | 30 Hours | |
Seminars / Tutorials | 2 Workshops | ||
Assessment | Semester Exam | 3 Hours One 3-hour theory paper | 80% |
Semester Assessment | Practical Exercise: Continuous assessment of practicals | 20% | |
Supplementary Assessment | 3 Hours One 3-hour theory paper (plus resubmission of failed coursework or an alternative) | 80% |
Plant Responses to pathogens
Plant responses to pathogenic challenge will focus on resistance associated with the hypersensitive response (HR). Key events discussed will include, the plants anti-microbial recognition, and subsequent signalling events leading to the generation of free-radicals ("the oxidative burst"), programmed cell death and defence gene expression. Following the HR, plants display a systemic acquired resistance (SAR) to further infection. The exhibition of SAR has been shown to be absolutely dependent on salicylic acid (SA). The role of SA in conferring SAR, together with its modes of action and biosynthesis will be discussed.
Combating the effects of insect attack
Insect grazing using will activate a range of responses including the induction of such anti-feedant genes as proteinase inhibitors (PI) and the production of toxic chemicals e.g. hexanol/ols and isocyanates. Additionally, plants produce gaseous signals to attract insect parasitoids and predators - thereby establishing tritophic interactions. Each aspect of the plant response will be discussed - highlighting how these are tailored to a particular insect or group of insects. A particular focus will be on the role of octadecanoids, particularly jasmonates, in the anti-insect response.
The application of biotechnology
Many biotechnological companies have aimed to increase field-resistance to pathogens and insects using methods that will be outlined in this section of the course.
Workshops
Two workshops will be run during this module where the onus will be placed on developing data-interpretative skills. One workshop will focus on fungal interactions with cereals whilst the second will focus on Tobacco Mosaic Virus (TMV) and bacterial pathogens of tobacco.