Lesson Structure: Plant Pathology BHT206

There are 8 lessons:

1. Introduction

• Overview of plant disease
• Diagnosis of problems: nutritional, environmental, pathological
• Symptoms
• Common terminology

2. Types of Diseases

• Morphological changes
• Necroses
• Hypoplases
• Hyperplases
• Types of pathogens: viruses, bacteria, actinomycetes, fungi, nematodes
• Techniques for diagnosing plant diseases: optical equipment, preparing pathogens for observation, culture methods, inoculation, etc
• Plant viruses; detection and diagnosis
• Plant nematodes
• Case study: Australian plant nematodes
• Main types of diseases
• Spots
• Rots
• Cankers
• Galls
• Mildews
• Rusts
• Moulds
• Wilts
• Scabs
• Others
• Using a key to diagnose diseases in plants

3. The Lifecycle of a Disease

• Inoculation
• Penetration
• Infection
• Growth and reproduction
• Dissemination
• Methods of penetration by bacteria and nematodes
• Lifecycle of nematodes
• Fungal biology
• Role of insect spreading fungal and bacterial pathogens

4. Control Techniques

• Sanitation
• Resistant Plant Varieties
• Biological Controls
• Soil Drenches/dips
• Chemical Controls
• Nematicides
• Soil fumigants
• Contact poisons
• Fungicides and the environment
• Systemic fungicides
• Misters, dusters, blowers, sprayersSpray maintenance and cleaning
• Natural controls: cultural, physical, biological, etc
• Terminology

5. Selected Pathogen Diseases Ornamentals

• Fungi affecting turf
• Phytopthera cinnamomi
• The process of tree decay: Shigo
• Case study: how phytopthera cinnamomi kills a susceptible Eucalyptus
• Peach powdery mildew
• Rose powdery mildew
• Honey fungus on rhododendrons and azaleas
• Petal blight on rhododendrons and azaleas

6. Selected Pathogen Diseases Crops

• Sclerotinia rot in vegetables
• Nematodes and citrus production
• Citrus diseases: scaly butt, lemon crinkle, citrus canker
• Brown rot
• Fire blight
• Apple fruit rot caused by trichoderma harzianum
• Prunus necrotic ringspot virus in cut flower roses
• Potato and tomato blight
• Club root

7. Non-Infectious Diseases

• Nutritional disorders
• Lack of water
• Excess water
• Other environmental problems
• Disorders caused by man: mechanical damage, pollution
• Case Study: Air pollution
• Other disorders: genetic, disturbed growth
• Non parasitic turf problems

 8.   Special Project

Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school’s tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.

Learning Goals: Plant Pathology BHT206

• The first part of the course develops an understanding of the different types of problems which can occur and how to identify them.
• Terminology is covered in some depth, so as to enable the student to be able to read and understand books and articles written about plant diseases. Other major topics of study include “symptoms” (ie. necroses, hypoplases, hyperplases, etc), “types of pathogens” (ie. viruses, bacteria, fungi, nematodes, etc), and the life-cycle of a disease.
• The second part of the course looks at how to control pathology problems. The major methods of controlling pathogens (ie. sanitation, resistant varieties, biological controls, soil drenches and chemical sprays, etc.) are all studied, along with types of equipment and safety.
• The third part of the course looks at some of the most common plant pathology problems in commercial horticulture, how to identify them and how they are controlled.
• Describe a range of pathological problems that affect plants.
• Describe symptoms of a range of diseases that affect plants.
• Describe disease life cycles and explain how this knowledge can be applied in disease control
• Explain the methods used to control diseases
• Demonstrate a comprehensive knowledge of a particular plant pathogen.
• Identify and describe a range of non-infectious diseases and problems that affect plants
• Identify and describe a range of common pathogens that affect ornamental plants.
• Identify and describe a range of common pathogens that affect crop plants

Practicals – What You Will Do

•  The first part of the course develops an understanding of the different types of problems which can occur and how to identify them.
•  Terminology is covered in some depth, so as to enable the student to be able to read & understand books & articles written about plant diseases.
  Other major topics of study include “symptoms” (ie:  Necroses, Hypoplases, Hyperplases, etc), “types of pathogens” (ie: Viruses, bacteria, fungi, Nematodes, etc), and the lifecycle of a disease.
•  The second part of the course looks at how to control pathologyproblems. The major methods of controlling pathogens (ie: Sanitation, resistant varieties, biological controls,
  soil drenches & chemical sprays, etc) are all studied, along with types of equipment & safety.
•  The third part of the course looks at some of the most common plant pathology problems in commercial horticulture, how to identify them and how they are controlled.
•  Some of the problems studied include cinnamon fungus, tree decay, powdery mildew, nematodes, brown rot, blights, turf fungi, damping off and non infectious problems
  such as temperature burns, air pollution, wind burn and excessive light.
•  The course is a highly practical one involving as much time in practical/field work as it does theory.
•  No prior formal training is required, though anyone undertaking this course is expected to have some experience in horticulture (either having worked in the industry or
  having studied in some related discipline.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Due to our years of experience and wide range of online courses, here are a list of our FAQs and Answers asked by Students.

General

Q. Do I need to buy text books?
A. No, you are not required to purchase expensive text books for any of our courses, since each module has been written by highly qualified tutors and writers, and our courses are updated on a regular basis, adding new information, methods and knowledge. You are supplied with all “essential” references. Extra books are always useful though, especially for special projects. Tutors will advise you what to buy if you decide you would like to have extra reading material, but it is not essential. Check out our eBookstore if you’re looking for a starting point.

Q. What sets the Academy apart from other institutions?
A.  A unique feature of our courses is that we combine knowledge of the subject matter with practical tasks (set tasks, found at the end of each lesson).  So you get to do practical components in each lesson. The benefits of this approach are immense: – your skills and knowledge are developed to a much higher level not normally found at other distance learning institutions.

Q. How do the practical exercises (set tasks) work?
A. The practical component of each lesson can be in the form of : Field Research, Networking and Analysis, Conducting Surveys, Growing, Collecting, Photographing and Processes.

Q. If I do a shorter course first, can I get credits towards a certificate or diploma later?
A. Yes. We will assess previous studies to give you appropriate credits.

Q. Can I pay by instalments?
A. Yes, you can view all available payment options here.

Q. Do I get a discount if two of us enrol together?
A. Yes. You may claim a 5% discount on fees if you both enrol in courses at the same time.

Q. Do I get a discount if I enrol in a second course?
A. Yes. You will be offered a 10% discount on subsequent courses you enrol for.

Q. Can I use more than one discount code when enrolling for my course?
A. No. You can only use one discount code chosen by yourself per course, when more than one is available.

Q. What happens if I have to stop studying for a while? (eg. become sick, go on holidays, have a baby)
A. It’s OK to take a break and start up your study at a later point in time. Just let us know.

Q. Is there an age limit?
A. There is no maximum age limit. We do however; have a minimum age limit of 18 years. Below that age parental consent would be required.

Q. Are there any hidden costs?
A. There are no hidden extras – the tuition fee covers all course material, unlimited tutor support, assignment marking/feedback and any text books where specified and exams. The only extras are for the public examinations fees for the ICB Bookkeeping course and the RHS (Royal Horticulture Society) exams.

Q. Are your courses up-to date?
A. Our courses are continually updated. The course content is rapidly updated and improved without the red tape and bureaucracy experienced at other educational institutions.

Q. Do you have a Cancellation policy?
A. We have a cancellation policy that is fair and equitable. For further details please click here.

Q. What Recognition do you have?
A. The Academy for Distance Learning has various forms of recognition:
These include TQUK (Training Qualifications UK) – an Ofqual Awarding Organisation – ADL is an approved TQUK Centre.
IARC – International Approval Registration Centre, approved member.  Accredited Training Provider for ICB (Institute of Certified Bookkeepers) and Approved Distance Learning Provider for the RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) and many more. Our graduates come from many parts of the world and have used our qualifications for successful employment and progression onto higher education. To view our full list  of recognition and memberships please click here,

Q. Will I have any opportunity to engage with other students?
A. We have a Student Community group based on facebook! If you don’t have a facebook account already, you could make one just for talking with fellow students on the group.

Q. Why should I enrol with the Academy for Distance Learning?
A. Here at the Academy our students are our priority – we treat every student as a unique individual. This philosophy allows us to nurture those who are “slow and steady” learners rather than letting them fall through the cracks, while catering for those who are in a hurry to complete.

Enrolment

Q. When can I enrol/start?
A. You may enrol and start at any time of the year – it’s all self- paced.

Q. Can I study from anywhere in the world?
A. Our courses are available to anyone, anywhere in the world from the comfort of your own home. The course content is relevant to any country, culture or economy.

Q. How long do I have to complete the course?
A. You complete the course at any time that is convenient for you. You’re under no pressure to finish by a certain deadline.

Q. Completing the course- how long will it take?
A. Completion of  modules varies from student to student.  Many factors come into play  such as work commitments and family life- there are always distractions.  Some students work quicker than others.  For a 100 hour module many students will take up to 3- 6 months,  others take less time and some are even longer. It’s all up to you.  There is no pressure to complete or deadline to finish. Naturally, longer courses will take more time.

Q. What learning formats are there?
A.  Your enrollment comes with the Online Classroom study option by default. For a small additional cost you also have the options of USB or Correspondence.
USB: Your course is sent to you on a USB stick, so that you can carry it in your pocket. Ideal for those with unreliable internet connections. This option is an additional £5/module

Correspondence:  You download the course content and then print your own copy to your requirements. You can then bind the lessons to suit your needs.

Assessments

Q. Assessment – how does it work?
A. For each 100 hour module you are assessed by assignments (at the end of each lesson) and a final one and a half hour exam (or you may elect to complete a project instead of sitting the exam) – the choice is yours – you sit for the exam in your own location, or you can visit us in Canterbury, England to sit the exam if want to.  Exam fees are included in the tuition fee you paid. You can read more about the examination process here. At the end of each lesson, there is an assignment. You submit it to the academy who then submits it to the tutor for marking, comments and feedback. Our policy is to have a grade for you within 5 to 7 days.

Q. If my assignment is not up to standard is there an opportunity to resubmit my work?
A. Yes – If you’re not happy with your work submitted you may re-submit the assignment again.

Q. How many assignments do I need to complete for each module?
A. At the end of each lesson, there is an assignment – so if a course has say, 10 lessons there would be 10 assignments. The number of lessons per module varies from module to module. See the course content from our website for further details.

Q. When do I have to hand in my first assignment?
A. There is no deadline for handing in the first assignment. Submit when you are ready. There are some students who hand in assignments within the first couple of weeks of enrolment – while there are others who submit their work 6 months later. It’s all at your own convenience to suit you. Everyone has different work and home commitments and we cater to these needs.

Q. I am having difficulty attending workshops/industry meetings, what can be done?
A. If your course requires attendance at workshops, conferences, or industry meetings; alternative arrangements can be made in your country; however, there may be an additional expense. We can appoint an appropriately qualified person anywhere to work through curriculum documentation supplied by us, to satisfy the requirements set down in a course.

Qualifications

Q. What qualification will I receive?
A. For individual modules, you would receive a Certificate (providing you complete all assignments and the exam). If you just want to complete the assignments only, then a Letter of Achievement would be awarded. For more details on qualifications awarded please click here.

Q. Is there a next level to progress to?
A. Yes – you can progress from one module to a combination of many modules and to higher qualifications i.e. Advanced Certificates, Diplomas and Higher Advanced Diplomas. Read more about course levels here.

Q. Can I customize my diploma/higher qualification?
A. Not all educational institution’s certificates /diplomas meet everyone’s needs. The opportunity to design your own diploma at the Academy (subject to our approval) is an added bonus, not found at other colleges. It’s a very popular option and widely used by many students. You quite simply choose the appropriate number of related modules needed to complete the qualification and submit them to us for approval as a custom diploma.

Q.  What do I get when I complete the course? Will I receive a transcript?
A. At the completion of a 100-hour Certificate course and providing all assignments and exam have been completed, you will receive a Certificate and Transcript.  The Transcript will list your GPA.  Each 100-hour module is worth 3 credit hours.

Exams

Q. Do I have to sit for an exam?
A. Exams are optional but need to be undertaken in order to receive the Certificate or higher qualification.  Exams are one and a half hours long. You appoint an adjudicator (subject to our approval) to supervise the exam. You sit for the exam in your own location. Its that simple.

Q. I don’t cope well with exams – what can I do?
A. If you feel you don’t cope well with exams you may elect to undertake a Project (set by the tutor) instead of sitting the exam.  Many students prefer this option as they find researching the material for the project sharpens their research skills.

Q. If I don’t sit for the Exam do I still get a qualification?
A. If you don’t sit for the exam but complete the project alternative, you will still receive your endorsed qualification. If you don’t sit for an exam or complete a final project, providing you have completed all the assignments you will be awarded a Certificate of Achievement.

Q. Do I have to sit for the exam at the Academy? 
A. No – whilst you are more than welcome to come to our location in Canterbury, U.K. and sit the exam in our classroom; the more popular option is to sit for the exam in your own location. You appoint an adjudicator to supervise the exam. Click here for more information on that process.

Q. Are there any exam fees?
A. There are no exam fees.  However, for some public examinations such as the ICB (Bookkeeping) and RHS courses exam fees do apply.  See course content for details.

Tutors

Q. Our tutors – who are they?
A.  We only employ tutors who have are currently active in their industry with at least 5 years of real-world experience.  Not only are they highly qualified but also experienced, knowledgeable, and professional- experts in their chosen fields from all parts of the world.

Q. Can I contact my tutor at any time?
A. Yes- you have unlimited access to tutors. We strongly encourage students to develop a dialogue with their Tutor. This is why we encourage students to submit their first assignment fairly quickly at the beginning of the course.
Every Academy student is assigned a tutor who supports you throughout your course and beyond. Your tutor is there to guide and facilitate your learning and provides as much or as little individual contact as you would like. When you submit your coursework the tutor will give you feedback that helps you develop your ideas and provides motivation. For those who do like to have interaction with other students, the ADL discussion forum connects you to students from all over the world.

Q. How do I contact my tutor?
A. You have direct contact with your tutor by email through the Online Classroom. Alternatively, you can write, fax, email, or phone the academy. Leave a message if your tutor isn’t available and they will phone, write or fax back; whatever suits you.

Q. If I don’t agree with / like my tutor can I request a change?
A. Yes – we try to accommodate and meet student’s needs and a change of tutor may be arranged.

Q. If I don’t understand a question or a lesson may I contact the tutor?
A. You may contact a tutor as often as you like. There is no additional charge or restriction on this service.  Contact can be made via the Student Zone, email, or by phone.

Q. Practical work – How is this done?
A. To find out more about this part of the course please visit the section on How Our Courses Work here.

Excerpt From The Course

TURF DISEASES

Although there are a variety of conditions such as lack of water, poor nutrition, and waterlogging which can cause the most common symptom on lawns – discoloured turf, it can also be caused by a number of diseases and so the cause is worth investigating.

Fungi on Turf

Let us firstly recap on what we already know about fungi. Fungi are a primitive form of plant life which, unlike green plants (such as grasses), are unable to produce their own food through photosynthesis.  This means that fungi must obtain their food from other life forms (plants or animals – living or dead).  Some types of fungi are in fact of benefit to us, living on dead organic material and helping decomposition.  Other fungi however attack living organisms, feeding from and causing deterioration to the life form it attacks.

Most fungi are made up of a body comprised of filaments which grow hyphae. Together, groups of filaments are called mycelium.  When the mycelium establishes sufficiently and has the right conditions, it will produce fruiting bodies (e.g. the umbrella which we eat of a mushroom – this is the mushroom fruiting body which has grown up from a mass of hyphae growing in organic matter in the soil).  The fruiting bodies of fungi can vary greatly in shape and size.  On maturation, one fruiting body will release many (sometimes thousands) spores (i.e. the equivalent of seeds in flowering plants).  These spores are microscopic and move in the air, soil, water etc. They can lie dormant sometimes for years, until the conditions are suitable for growth.  Under the right conditions, the spores will grow to produce a new mycelium.

When a plant leaf, stem, root, flower, or fruit is affected by fungi, hyphae grow into the body of the living plant feeding off its tissue and (depending on the severity of the type of fungus) causes anything from a slight ill effect through to death of part of the plant, or whole plant.

Damping Off

This refers to several different types of fungus (Pythium, Phytopthora etc) which attack young seedlings causing them to rot at ground level.  This disease is of significance in both the nursery industry and in turf care. In turf, damping off will show in a newly sown lawn as a reddening or bronzing of grass leaves in patches, particularly in places where grass is dense, or in wet spots.  Overwatering is a significant cause of damping off.  Reduced watering as well as application of a fungicide (e.g. Zineb) are the best techniques for control.

Red Thread

This is caused by the fungus, Corticum fusiform, usually in the autumn or late summer. it is more noticeable following rainfall or morning dews and is visible as pinkish red patches. Close inspection reveals horn shaped red fungal growths attached to grass blades and stalks sometimes sticking them together since they become gelatinous with moisture. Often damage is minimal, being more unsightly than anything else, and the fungus disappears after several weeks. If there is a severe outbreak then the fungus may remain in drier weather. It often takes hold in soils low in nitrogen and with poor aeration. Aerating the soil and removing thatch therefore helps, as does feeding with a nitrogenous fertiliser. Fungicides containing benomyl, thiophanate-methyl or carbendazim are also beneficial.

Brown Patch

This appears as light yellowing or browning of grass blades in irregular patches.  The areas will increase in size if unchecked and can result in the death of grass and subsequent invasion by mosses.  Lack of aeration, poor drainage, and warm weather are contributors to the infection.  High applications of nitrogen fertilisers in summer make grass more susceptible to attack.

If fertilising you are better to apply a little, more frequently, to reduce likelihood of brown patch.

Hollow tine aeration will help control brown patch.  Chemical control can be achieved with Captan, PMA or Thimer.

Fairy Rings

These appear as a ring of toadstools or puffballs (small round white balls) growing in a circle.  The mycelium of these fungi can penetrate soil to a depth of 8 inches in a mass of white fibres.  This fibrous growth throughout the soil can have a waterproofing effect. Since water does not penetrate, the grass becomes starved for water and suffers.  Aeration can assist in the short term however the only long term sure control is to fumigate the soil (this means killing the turf and starting afresh).

Dollar Spot

Small pale green or yellow spots 1 or 2 inches across appear at first, often with a white edge.  As the disease progresses, spots may grow larger and join to form irregular patches.  The disease occurs most frequently in conditions of high humidity and warm weather.  Overwatering, particularly night watering in hot weather, will favour development of the fungus.  Low nitrogen levels in the soil will favour development of this particular complaint.

Chemical control is achieved with Benlate or Daconil.  You should be sure that Benlate is only from a freshly opened packet since this chemical deteriorates once exposed to air.

Rust

Rust appears as orange, brown or black streaks on leaf blades of grass. Rust is more commonly a problem on greens, particularly in autumn.  Severely infected grass can die.

Some fungicidal sprays may help, however the best control is achieved by removing all grass clippings from the area of the turf and by maintaining a program of regular fertilising and deep watering.