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Plant Disease

PPAT3003

This unit introduces plant disease and the pathogens that limit agricultural and horticultural production. The unit is core to the BScAgr and BHortSc degrees and is available as an elective to BLWS and BSc students. It builds on the material introduced in MICR2024. The lecture component of the unit discusses the aetiology of plant disease and symptom development; diagnosis of plant disease; the biology, epidemiology and management of fungi and other microbes that cause plant disease; breeding for disease resistance; plant-parasite relationships; and disease resistance in plants. The practical component introduces techniques used in handling and identifying fungi and in studying plant disease, and develops skills in experimental design, execution and interpretation of experimental data. At the completion of this unit, students will be able to exercise problem-solving skills (developed through practical experiments and lecture discussions), think critically, and organise knowledge (from consideration of the lecture material and preparation of practical reports), expand from theoretical principles to practical explanations (through observing and reporting on practical work), use certain computer software for analysing data and reporting on laboratory projects. Students learn to work in a research team, plan effective work schedules (to meet deadlines for submission of assessable work), use statistical analysis in research, keep appropriate records of laboratory research, work safely in a research laboratory and operate a range of scientific equipment. Students will gain research and inquiry skills through research based group projects, information literacy and communication skills through assessment tasks and personal and intellectual autonomy through working in groups.

Unit of study details

Unit of study level: Senior

Credit points: 6

Commencing semesters: 1

Further unit of study information

Unit of study handbook: PPAT3003

Costs and scholarships information: Costs and Scholarships

Final dates to withdraw from units of study: Census Dates

Available for study abroad and exchange: Yes

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