Dr. Fouad Daayf

Biochemical & Molecular Aspects of Plant Defense Mechanisms

PLNT7360
Special Problems in Plant Science
Term II - January - April

Instructor	Course Description	Goals	Objectives
Textbook	Additional References
Evaluation	Late Submissions	General Academic Regulations	Topics

Instructor

	Office	Telephone	E-mail
Dr. F. DAAYF	207 Agriculture	204-474-6096	Daayff@ms.umanitoba.ca

Course description

This course is designed for graduate students who want to learn how plants defend themselves against pathogens. Students will have an opportunity to discuss the current theories, mechanisms, and applications of knowledge in this area. 2-hr weekly meetings will compose the course and will include: (i)- Lectures, (ii)- Presentation and discussion of assigned readings, and (iii)- A term paper prepared by every student, that will be presented and discussed in class before the end of the term.

Goals

To become familiar with current theories and trends in plant responses to pathogens, and to understand the concept of integrating such knowledge into potential disease management strategies

Objectives

To learn about (i) plant defense mechanisms at a tissue/cell/molecular level, (ii) techniques used to acquire such knowledge, and (iii) Means to integrate plant defense findings into potential disease management strategies.

Textbook

None. Assigned readings will be provided to students or put on reserve at the library.

Additional References

Evaluation

#	Topic	%
01	Term paper	35 %
02	Oral presentation of term paper	15 %
03	Assignments/Presentations	20 %
04	Discussion/Participation	10 %
05	Final oral exam	20 %
	TOTAL	100%

Late Submissions

Assignments that are submitted after the stated deadline will be deducted 5 % a day of the grade up to the end of the first week and 25 % thereafter for each week the assignment is late.

Note: Student performance in the Midterm and two Lab Tests will be evaluated before the -date TBA- deadline for voluntary withdrawal without academic penalty. Students experiencing difficulty will be counselled accordingly.

General Academic Regulations

Please refer to the University of Manitoba General Calendar for regulations regarding plagiarism and cheating and examination impersonation.

Please note that assignments, reports, or exams which are illegible or poorly written may be subject to refusal or deduction of the final grade.

Discussions Topics

Structural plant defense:
Pre-existing structures
Induced structures

Biochemical plant defense:
Pre-existing defense
Induced defense
Hypersensitive response
Phytoalexins
Antimicrobial/PR proteins
Active oxygen species

Elicitor-induced defenses:
Elicitor production
Elicitor recognition
Signal transduction
Defense expression

Systemic acquired resistance

Methodology in plant defense mechanisms studies:
Histo-cytochemistry (structural and biochemical changes)
Phytochemistry (Secondary metabolites)
Molecular biology (Gene expression)
Bioassays - design and interpretation

Integration of defense mechanisms in control strategies.

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