Module Identifier RS35810  
Module Title CROP PROTECTION  
Academic Year 2002/2003  
Co-ordinator Dr Peter D Jenkins  
Semester Semester 2  
Course delivery Lecture   20 Hours 20 x 1 hour lectures  
  Practical   5 Hours 2 x 2.5 hour practicals  
Assessment Semester Exam   2 Hours Outcomes assessed: 1, 2, 3   70%  
  Semester Assessment   Assignment: Outcome assessed: 3   30%  
  Supplementary Assessment   Candidates will be required to re-take the element(s) of assessment that resulted in them failing the module.    

Learning outcomes

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

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

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

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

Content

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.

Aims

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.

Transferable skills

.1 Independent project work
   Developed and assessed in the assignment

.2 IT and information handling
   A wide range of sources of information, including internet sources, will be required to collect the necessary details for the assignment.

.4 Writing in an academic context
   Thi is developed and assessed in both the assignment and in the written examination.

Reading Lists

Books
Lucas J A. (1998) Plant pathology and plant pathogens. Blackwell Science
Maloy O C. (1993) Plant disease control: principles and practice. Wiley and Sons
van Emden H F. (1992) Pest control. New Studies in Biology. 2nd.