courses

Special Problems in Plant Science

PLNT7360

Title:

Mechanisms of infection by root pathogens

Instructor: Dr. Fouad Daayf

Course Description: This course is meant to provide the student(s) with precise knowledge on how soil-borne pathogens in general, and root pathogens in particular infect and cause disease in plants. This entails gathering and analyzing information on infection and pathogenesis processes, such as the production of (i) cell wall-degrading enzymes, (ii) toxins, (iii) phytoalexin-detoxifying enzymes, and (iv) plant defense suppressors.

2h weekly meetings will compose the course and will include discussion of assigned readings (readings focusing on specific topics will be given to the student(s) and then discussed in class). The readings will be composed of both review and research papers.

A term paper prepared by the student(s) will be presented and discussed in class before the end of the term.

Goals: To become familiar with (i) the mechanisms allowing root pathogens to enter the plant and cause disease, and (ii) the latest findings in this area.

Objectives:

(i) To acquire knowledge about strategies that plants root pathogens use to infect and cause disease in plants, such as using cell-wall degrading enzymes and toxins.

(ii) To learn about complementary approaches which are used to acquire such knowledge, including molecular, biochemical, and histo-chemical techniques

Textbook: None. Assigned readings will be provided to the student(s).

Evaluation:

Topic
Mark
Term paper
35%
Oral presentation of term paper
15%
Assignments (2 x 10% each)
20%
Discussion/participation
15%
Final oral exam
15%
TOTAL
100%

  Grading:

Mark
Grade
90-100%
A+
80-89%
A
75-79%

B+

70-74%
B
65-69%
C+
60-64%
C
50-59%
D
<50%
F