Phytopathology

Recommended Prerequisites

Plant physiology, genetics.

Teaching Methods

Intensive course of two weeks with theoretical and practical classes. In the practical classes some cases studies are introduced by researchers of the Plant Pathology lab (FITOLAB) based on Instituto Pedro Nunes.

Learning Outcomes

Plant pathology was born of the need to mitigate impacts of diseases affecting agronomic crops, a mission that remains central to the rationale for this discipline. Global movement of pathogens, changes in cultivars and crop production practices, and diminished availability of chemical treatment options provide ample opportunities for the emergence of new diseases and the reemergence of problems previously controlled. The science of plant pathology can be introduced in a way that emphasizes opportunities for fruitful exploration of concepts central to the biological sciences. Thus, plant pathology is more than a problem-solving discipline and cannot be reduced to a checklist of pathogens and their characteristics.

Students should be able to understand the mechanisms of evolution of the plant / parasite relationship for a better understanding of host / parasite dynamics. They should also be able to know the main pathogens of the main Mediterranean crops. 

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

Theoretical: 1. Introduction to plant pathology; 2. Interactions plant-pathogen in the era of the genomics; 3. Co-evolution of the plant-parasite relation; 4. How parasites attack the plants and how plants defend against parasites; 5. The effect of parasites on the plant physiology; 6. Epidemiological models of invasion and persistance of parasites; 7. Management of suppressive soils; 8. Control of diseases: the importance of diagnosis networks. Practical: 1. Parasitism and disease development; 2. Diseases caused by fungi; 3. Diseases caused by bacteria; 4. Diseases caused by virus; 5. Diseases caused by plant parasites; 6. Diseases caused by neamtodes.

Head Lecturer(s)

Maria Cristina Amaral Penas Nabais dos Santos

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Resolution Problems: 40.0%
Exam: 60.0%

Bibliography

Livros/ Books

Agrios GN (2005) Plant Pathology. Elsevier Academic Press. 5ª edição. 922 pp.

Dhingra OD & Sinclair JB (1995) Basic Plant Pathology Methods. CRC Press. 2ª edição. 434 pp.

Sinclair WA & Lyon HH (2005) Diseases of Trees and Shrubs. 2ª edição. Cornell University Press. 660 pp.

Artigos/ Articles

Ownley BH, Trigiano RN (2016) Plant Pathology: Concepts and Laboratory Exercises. CRC Press

Brown JKM & Tellier A (2011) Plant-Parasite Coevolution: Bridging the Gap between Genetics and Ecology. Annu. Rev. Phytopathol. 49: 345-367

Garrett KA, Dendy SP, Frank EE, Rouse MN & Travers SE (2006) Climate change effects on plant disease: genomes to ecosystems. Annu. Rev. Phytopathol. 44: 489-509

Gordon TR & Leveau JHJ (2010) Plant pathology: a story about biology. Annu. Rev. Phytopathol. 48: 293-309

Stukenbrock EH & McDonald BA (2008) The origins of plant pathogens in agro-ecosystems. Annu. Rev. Phytopathol. 46: 75-100.