Credit Hours: 4
Instructor: Dr. Kathy Lawrence
Telephone: (334) 844-1956
Email: lawrekk@auburn.edu

Delivery Systems:

This course requires a computer with Internet access. You will need to be able to adjust settings, install software and plug-ins, and be able to create files on the computer you will be using. Please be advised that public\lab computers often prevent these types of activities. You should check to ensure that you have these capabilities before participating in this course.

George N. Agrios (1997). Plant Pathology (5th ed.). Academic Press. ISBN #:0-12-044564-6.

This is an undergraduate level course that will increase your knowledge about plant diseases. You will study plant disease types, causes, mechanisms, and control methods. Plant pathology is the study of: living and non-living entities which incite plant diseases; mechanisms and environmental conditions which stimulate plant disease; interactions between the disease causing agents; and methods of preventing, managing, or alleviating the damage of plant disease.

The objectives/purpose of the course are/is:

1. To gain an appreciation of general plant pathology.
2. To gain more knowledge on living and non-living entities which incite plant diseases.
3. To learn the mechanisms and environmental conditions which stimulate plant disease.
4. To understand the interactions between the disease causing agents; and methods of preventing, managing, or alleviating the damage of plant disease.

The course consists of 12 topics spread across in four units. You are required to do the assigned readings from the textbook, watch Lecture presentations in the form of MS PowerPoint, videos, handouts with images, respond to 3 quizzes at the end of units 1, 2, & 3 and take a proctored final examination at the end of unit 4. More information is given about these activities in the 'Course Requirements' section in this syllabus. A variety of media will be used to communicate among class members and with the instructor. Most of these media will be part of the software Auburn University supports for distance course delivery, that is, Blackboard software. Blackboard includes many types of communication tools, including online submission of assignments, email among class members, online discussions, and chats. You will use some or all of these to complete class requirements.

The course content is listed below:

Unit 1

1. Introduction to Plant Pathology and History: In session one, we will introduce plant pathology, and take a look at how it all began. We will look at how the development of plant pathological research greatly benefited people throughout history, and how it still greatly benefits us today.

2. Concepts and Definitions: We will introduce some common terms and concepts used in plant pathology that will be used through out the course.

3. Development of Plant Disease: In this session we will introduce and discuss the development of diseases and their different stages in the plant disease cycle. We will also discuss the different forms of disease inoculums and the relationship between disease cycles and epidemics.

4. Chemical weapons of pathogens, Effect of pathogen on the host plant and Plant defenses against pathogens: This area will focus on how pathogens interfere with different physiological functions of the plant. We will also take a look at different chemical weapons of pathogens, and the methods plants use to defend themselves against pathogens.

Unit 2

5. Introduction to Fungi, Disease cycles of lower fungi, Ascomycetes, Deuteromycetes, Zygomycetes, Oomycetes, Ascomycetes, associated Deuteromycetes and Basidiomycetes: We will begin discussing the different classes of fungi, their characteristics, life cycles, and reproductive structures. We will also review a variety of diseases caused by the different fungi, and various control methods.

Unit 3

6. Bacterial plant diseases: This session will introduce bacteria, and discuss the different diseases caused by bacteria. We will also discuss bacterial disease cycles of the various bacterial pathogens and potential management methods.

7. Plant diseases caused by viruses: In this session we will discuss plant viruses, their physical characteristics and different properties. The various plant viruses diseases will be reviewed with management options currently available.

8. Plant parasitic nematodes: We will discuss the characteristics of plant pathogenic nematodes, how they affect plants, and different control methods for them.

9. Parasitic Plants: In this session we will introduce parasitic plants, discuss different types of these plants, and look at the diseases they cause.

10. Post-Harvest Diseases: Here we will talk about different diseases that develop on fruit during harvest, grading, and packing, during transportation to market and to the consumer, and while the produce is in the possession of the consumer before consumption or use.

11. Epidemiology: In session number eleven; we will be discussing epidemiology which is the study of factors affecting the outbreak and spread of infectious diseases. We will look at the new tools in epidemiology, and examples of plant disease forecast systems.

12. Plant Disease Control and Diagnosis: In this final session we will discuss how to diagnose the cause of a plant disease and take an overall look at the best methods of control.

The lab assignments in this course provide thorough hands on experience of the following:

1. Use and Care of the Light Microscope on the laboratory Sterile Technique -
        Isolation of Fungi and Bacteria
2. Recognition and Terminology of Disease Symptoms and Signs
3. Plant Disease Ratings
4. Damping off of Seeds and Seedlings
5. Characteristics and Structures of Fungi
6. Dissemination of fungal spores and bacterial cells by wind and water
7. Basidiomycetes - Rusts and Smuts
8. Bacterial Pathogens and Crown Gall- Signs and symptoms of bacterial diseases
9. Mechanical Transmission of Plant Viral Diseases
10. Study of Plant Parasitic Nematodes
11. Abiotic Diseases - Fungi
12. Disease Identification Practical

BIOL 1030 and you will need to have basic computer skills, such as word processing, and minimal basic experience using email and the internet.

In order to do the coursework, a computer with an internet connection is necessary. The access could be in labs at Auburn University or could be at home or at work. (If a computer at work is used, the access should be tested, because some organizations have protective "firewalls" that limit full internet access.)

1. Lecture Presentations:

Lectures will be in the form of power point presentations with questions intermingled through out the lecture. Presentations will include all the information about each plant disease as well as color photographs of symptoms and causal agents.

2. Lab Assignments:

You will be required to purchase a lab materials package at the beginning of the semester. The package will contain a lab booklet and all the materials you will need to conduct the labs during the entire semester. Successful learning in lab will require active participation by the youin the Discussion area on line. The diversity of experiences with the lab assignments between you and your peers will enhance your learning and bring a different perspective to the online course. Various discussion questions from each lab will be posted for you to discuss and compare your results. You will be required to summarize your experiences from each lab in the form of lab reports. These reports will be submitted to the discussion board for peer comment, critique, and questioning.

3. Discussions:

Successful learning online requires active participation in the Discussion area. The diversity of experience among the members of the class enhances the learning and brings a different perspective to the online course. This is achieved through your response and your peers' responses to the discussions that relate to the lecture and assigned readings during the unit, various discussion questions, or lab experiments. Everyone's comments are valued. You will use the Blackboard Discussion Board, for contributing to discussions during the semester.

4. Quizzes:

Throughout the semester, you will be given three timed quizzes and homework assignments based on the online lectures and readings. These assignments will be submitted to the assignment area and discussion board as directed for comment, critique, and questioning.

5. Final Examination:

The final exam will be a comprehensive examination and will be based on the material presented in lecture and lab.

After the first session, you must select a proctor to supervise the final examination. Examples of approved proctors are academic administrators in the learner?s locale: school superintendents or principals, academic deans or department heads at colleges, or an independent learning office test supervisor at another college, or an education officer at a military installation. All proposed proctors are verified for appropriateness by Distance Learning and Outreach Technology (DLOT) student services staff at 334-844-3106 or audl@auburn.edu. At the time of the final examination, you and the proctor will fill out the Examination Information Verification form. This form along with any written material is mailed in a confidential self addressed sealed envelope to DLOT office. When the examination is received by DLOT, the staff records it and forwards it to the faculty for grading and reporting.

The class will be fully web-based and semi-self-paced. Each session, assignments will be due. You should stay on track, especially since each session will be focused on the previous session's topic.

This type of course allows quite a bit of freedom, for instance, in determining at what time of day and where you do your coursework. It does, however, entail quite a bit of selfdiscipline and determination in order to keep up with quizzes and assignments.

The work in this course will be evaluated on the basis of the responses to quizzes, lab reports, discussion and the final exam. The final course average will be computed as follows:

Discussion Questions - 25 pts (5%) (Average of highest six of eight activities)

Quizzes - 150 pts (30%)

Lab Reports - 100 pts (20%)

Final Examination - 225 pts (45%)

TOTAL - 500 pts (100%)

Grades will be assigned on the basis of the following percentages of total points:

A = 450 - 500 points
B = 400 - 449 points
C = 350 - 399 points
D = 300 - 349 points
F = 0 - 300 points

Auburn University is committed to providing accommodations and services to students with documented disabilities. Any learner with a qualified disability which requires accommodations should contact The Program for Students with Disabilities, 1244 Haley Center, Auburn University, AL 36849, 334-844-2096 PH, 334-844-2099 FAX, haynemd@auburn.edu. More information is available on their website at www.auburn.edu/disability. The office will fax or mail the required forms to learners to apply for services. Learners who have questions to participate in this course should contact the above office in advance to ensure proper accommodations.

Plagiarism is the act of presenting directly or indirectly someone else’s work as your own. Plagiarism is a major type of academic dishonesty and will not be tolerated. Similarly cheating on tests in any way, falsifying bibliographies, fraudulent quotes, and similar practices are intolerable forms of academic dishonesty. The University’s policy for academic misconduct in the Learner Code of Conduct will be followed for this course (Tiger Club, pp. 83 and 92). If you have any questions regarding its contents, please contact the instructor.