Module Identifier RS35810  
Module Title CROP PROTECTION  
Academic Year 2007/2008  
Co-ordinator Dr Malcolm H Leitch  
Semester Semester 2  
Course delivery Lecture   2 x 1 hour lectures per week  
  Practical   2 x 2.5 hour practicals per semester  
Assessment
Assessment TypeAssessment Length/DetailsProportion
Semester Assessment Assignment: Outcome assessed: 3  30%
Semester Exam2 Hours Outcomes assessed: 1, 2, 3  70%
Supplementary Exam2 Hours Examination, testing all outcomes.  100%

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.

Module Skills

Communication Students' ability to communicate in writing will be assessed by the production of a crop protection plan.  
Information Technology Students' ability to find information on the internet will be a major contributor to the completion of the assignment.  

Reading Lists

Books
** General Text
Lucas J A (1998) Plant pathology and plant pathogens Blackwell Science, Oxford 0063203061
Maloy O C (1993) Plant disease control: principles and practice Wiley and Sons, New York 0471573175
van Emden H F (1992) Pest control. New Studies in Biology 2nd edition. Edward Arnold, London 0713129824

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 6