| Semester 2, 2023 Toowoomba On-campus | |
| Units : | 1 |
| School or Department : | School of Agriculture and Environmental Science |
| Grading basis : | Graded |
| Course fee schedule : | /current-students/administration/fees/fee-schedules |
Staffing
Course Coordinator:
Requisites
Pre-requisite: BIO1101 or Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: BATM or BENV or GCSC or GDSI or MSCN
Overview
Plant-microbe interactions are a central feature of the life of plants and range from advantageous symbiotic associations through to pathogenic disease states. An understanding of these interactions is essential for both commercial plant production and native vegetation management. This course examines the defining features of the most critical associations and highlights their dynamic nature.
The principal groups of micro-organisms which interact with plants are surveyed, particularly the fungi. Symbiotic interactions (notably those with nitrogen fixing bacteria and mycorrhizal fungi), the role of endophytes and the significance of the rhizosphere are described. A major emphasis is placed on the nature of plant pathogenesis, the disease cycle and the genetics and physiology of plant disease resistance.
This course contains a highly recommended residential school for both external and on-campus students (non-attendance will mean the student misses both an element for assessment preparation and an element of assessment).
Course learning outcomes
On successful completion of this course students should be able to:
- integrate knowledge of the major taxonomic classes of eukaryotic microorganisms involved in plant-microbe interactions
- critically evaluate the principal factors underlying plant-microbe interactions and the importance of plant-microbe symbiotic relationships in the life of plants
- apply expertise in the principles of plant pathogenesis
- display competency in laboratory and glasshouse work related to the analysis of plant-associated micro-organisms
- report scientific information and research results in a clear, concise and rigorous manner.
Topics
| Description | Weighting(%) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Introduction to plant microbe associations: fungi | 15.00 |
| 2. | Introduction to plant microbe associations: bacteria | 10.00 |
| 3. | Introduction to plant microbe associations: viruses | 10.00 |
| 4. | Introduction to plant microbe associations: nematodes | 10.00 |
| 5. | Symbiotic and non-pathogenic associations | 10.00 |
| 6. | Plant pathology and the development of disease | 25.00 |
| 7. | Disease resistance | 10.00 |
| 8. | Disease diagnostics | 5.00 |
| 9. | Epidemiology and the environment | 5.00 |
Text and materials required to be purchased or accessed
Student workload expectations
To do well in this subject, students are expected to commit approximately 10 hours per week including class contact hours, independent study, and all assessment tasks. If you are undertaking additional activities, which may include placements and residential schools, the weekly workload hours may vary.
Assessment details
| Description | Group Assessment |
Weighting (%) | Course learning outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quiz | No | 20 | 1 |
| Report 1 | No | 20 | 1,5 |
| Report 2 | No | 20 | 1,5,6,8 |
| Time limited online examinatn | No | 40 | 2,3,4,7,9 |