BOARD OF STUDY IN PLANT PROTECTION

     

BOARD OF STUDY IN PLANT PROTECTION

List of Courses of the Board of Study

Course No	Course Title	Credits
First Semester
PP 5101	General Microbiology	2
PP 5102	Plant Pathology	2
PP 5103	Insect Morphology	3
PP 5104	Insect Physiology	2
PP 5105	Clinical Plant Pathology	2
PP 5106	Pesticide Toxicology	2
PP 5107	Pesticide Technology	1
PP 5108	Methods in Microbiology & Microbial Technology	3
PP 5109	Molecular Microbiology	2
PP 5110	Microbial Genomics	2
PP 5151	Plant Molecular Biology	2
PP 5152	Indigenous Technology for Plant Protection	2
PP 5153	Soil Borne Pathogens and Root Diseases	2
PP 5154	Epidemiology	2
PP 5155	Immunology	2
PP 5156	Integrated Pest Management in the Tropics (M.Sc. in Tropical Agriculture)
PP 5197	Internship / Practicum	2
PP 5198	Directed Study	1
PP 5199	Seminar	1
PP 5206	Integrated Pest Management
PP 5158	Methods of Invertebrate Ecology
Second semester
PP 5201	Insect Systematics and Identification	2
PP 5202	Insect Ecology and Behaviour	2
PP 5203	Nematology	2
PP 5204	Biological Control of Agricultural Pest	2
PP 5207	Plant Resistance to Insect Pests	2
PP 5208	Molecular Diagnostic for Plant Protection	2
PP 5209	Post Harvest Protection	2
PP 5210	Acarology	2
PP 5211	Microorganisms with Medical Importance	2
PP 5212	Aquatic Microbiology and Water Quality	2
PP 5213	Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology	2
PP 5214	Molecular Plant Microbial Interactions	2
PP 5251	Insect Toxins and Insect Transmission of Plant disease	2
PP 5252	Molecular Virology	2
PP 5253	Pests and Diseases of Forests	2
PP 5254	Disease Management in Floricultural Crops	2
PP 5255	Insect Pathology and Microbial Control of Insect Pests	2
PP 5256	Techniques and Strategies in Plant Molecular Biology	3
PP 5257	Crop Protection in the Tropics	2
PP 5259	Insect pest management in horticultural crops	2

List of Courses

 

Course No	Course Title	Credits	Option
First Semester
PP 5101*	General Microbiology	2	Compulsory
PP 5108	Methods in Microbiology & Microbial Technology	3	Compulsory
PP 5109	Molecular Microbiology	2	Compulsory
PP 5110	Microbial Genomics	2	Compulsory
PP 5198	Internship/Practicum	2	Compulsory
PP 5199	Seminar	1	Compulsory
AE 5157	Solid Waste Management	2	Recommended
FT 5105	Food Microbiology	2	Recommended
PP 5155	Immunology	2	Elective
AE 5107	Water Quality for Agriculture and Environment	3	Recommended
AE 5152	Environmental Impact Assessment	2	Recommended
AE 5156	Environment and Industry	3	Recommended
AS 5109	Dairy Chemistry	2	Recommended
FT 5111	Food Safety	2	Recommended
SS 5106	Environmental Pollution and Control	2	Elective
SS 5109	Microbial Ecology	3	Elective
Second Semester
PP 5211	Microorganisms with Medical Importance	2	Compulsory
PP 5212	Aquatic Microbiology and Water Quality	2	Compulsory
PP 5213	Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology	2	Compulsory
PP 5214	Molecular Plant Microbial Interactions	2	Compulsory
PP 5208	Molecular Diagnostic for Plant Protection	2	Elective
PP 5252	Molecular Virology	2	Elective
PP 5256	Techniques and Strategies in Plant Molecular Biology	3	Elective
AB 5257	Bioinformatics	1	Elective
AE 5213	Bioreactor and Bio-Environment Design and Control Systems	3	Elective
SS 5210	Environmental Microbiology	2	Elective
AS 5207	Dairy Engineering	2	Recommended
AS 5217	Microbiology of Dairy and Meat, Fish and Egg products	3	Recommended

* Compulsory only for students with no previous microbiology exposure.

COURSE CAPSULES OF THE BOARD OF STUDY IN PLANT  PROTECTION

Courses Offered in the First Semester

            PP 5101.General Microbiology: (2)

            General introduction. Evolution of microorganisms. Classification. Sub cellular structure.         Nutrition and growth. Microbial genetics and physiology. Overview of general methodology in         microbiology. Prokaryotic diversity, Ecophysiology and habitat. Microbial ecology and          environmental activities. Microorganisms and industry. Control of microorganisms

            PP 5102. Plant Pathology (2)

            Concepts of diseases in plant. Pathogenesis. Molecular biology of plant infection. Inoculum and disease severity. Host parasite relations. Environment and disease development. Defense            mechanisms. Disease Management.

            PP 5103. Insect Morphology (3)

            The external structure of insects; exoskeleton, metamerism, body regions, the appendages     :antennae; mouthparts; legs, wings and abdominal appendages. Maintenance systems; enteron;       circulatory; respiratory; reproductive system; Control systems; nervous system, sensory        receptors; endocrine system and exocrine glands.

            PP 5104. Insect Physiology (2)

            The functions of insect structures. Life processes and metamorphosis of insects. Physiology of moulting and body wall: formation of chemical properties of cuticle. Consequences of the   possession of exoskeleton. Digestion, nutrition and metabolics. Respiration in terrestrial and             aquatic insects. The blood constituents, circulation; homeostasis. Excretion. Senses:        Chemoreception; mechanoreception; tactile senses; sensitivity to gravity, pressure, movement; hearing and sound production. Vision. Physiology of reproduction. Mating process and                  methods of sperm transfer; impregnation; oviposition; sex determination. Muscle action:        strength and activity; energy source. Body temperature and humidity. Coordination: nervous     and endocrine systems. Insect hormones, pheromones and defensive secretions

            PP 5105. Clinical Plant Pathology (2)

            Clinical procedures and diagnostic techniques, Specialized techniques for identification and       study of plant diseases. Analysis of field problems. Field assignments and reports

            PP 5106. Pesticide Toxicology (2)

            Principles and methods used in toxicology of pesticides. Chemical composition of insecticides     and fungicides and their effects in plant and animal tissues. Toxicity to fauna and flora including     domesticated animals and wildlife. Acute and chronic toxicity in humans.

            PP 5107. Pesticide Technology (1)

            Pesticide legislation, Registration of pesticides, FAO international code of conduct. Formulation    of pesticides,  Application techniques, equipment, Application schedules following monitoring             of pests. Safety procedures and protection of farmers

            PP 5108. Methods in Microbiology and Microbial Technology. (3)

            Safety in microbiology. Culture methods of bacteria, fungi, algae & protozoa, microbial        consortia and communities. Biochemical and molecular approaches to measurements of        biomass density, diversity and phylogeny. Microorganisms and recombinant DNA technology.           Plasmids and phages as cloning vectors, Cloning procedures, cDNA and genomic libraries      ;construction and screening, DNA probes and labeling techniques, Colony and plaque        hybridization methods, Solution hybridization, Yeast two hybrid systems and phage displays,          Polymerase chain reaction and its applications in microbiology, Bacterial transformation       methods, Expression of mammalian genes in bacteria, Use of Agrobacterium vectors An    integrated discussion of recent genetic, biochemical and engineering approaches to microbial        processing from Antibiotic, Biomass and Citric acid to Zymomonas.

            PP 5109. Molecular Microbiology (2)

            Macromolecular Synthesis and Processing: DNA, RNA, and Protein Synthesis. Protein            molecules. Macromolecular interactions, Biological membranes and bacterial cell wall.      Membrane transport, Mode of action of antibiotics. Bacterial two component signal transfer      systems, Growth, Physiology and metabolic regulation in Bacteria, Quorum sensing, Microbial            stress responses. Biofilms-structure, phenotypic changes and distribution. Bacterial Genetics:    Genetic material, DNA Exchange and transformation, Repair. Transposons, Regulation of             Prokaryotic Gene Expression. Bacteriophage Genetics.

            PP 5110. Microbial Genomics (2)

            Introduction to genome and structural and functional genomics, Structural diversity of microbial    genomes, Strategies to determine genome biodata, Physical map construction for microbial     genomes, High resolution maps and linkage maps (gene encyclopedia), Identification/mapping          of genes, Genomic fingerprinting, Genome sequencing strategies, bioinformatics and genome   analysis, Mutational studies and functional assays at phenotypic and gene expression level

            PP 5151. Plant Molecular Biology (2)

            Introduction to plant molecular biology, Structure, regulation and function of plant genes and        multi gene families, Signal Transduction ,Control of plant developmental and physiological       processes at molecular level, Scope for genetic manipulation of different plant processes,       Current perspectives

            PP 5152. Indigenous Technology in Plant Protection. (2)

            Evolution of monoculture farming systems from chena to date. Kandyan forest garden systems.          Hazards of modern agriculture. Ecological concepts of traditional agriculture. Plant protection as a holistic process in ecological farming for higher sustainability. Concept of spiritual,   ecological and biodynamic farming for minimal pest damage. Survey of traditional herbal pest     management techniques used in Sri Lanka. Case studies of spiritual and biodynamic pest          management techniques used in Sri Lanka. Nawakekulama, Organic farming Biodynamic         sowing and planting calendar, Kem and religious methods for prevention of pest infestations in   plants and farm animals.

            ( Field trip). Methodology to test indigenous knowledge.

            PP 5153. Soil borne Pathogens and Root Diseases (2)

            Population dynamics of soil borne pathogens, Rhizosphere influence on pathogens, effect of soil   environment on root diseases of crops of economic importance. Control.

            PP 5154. Epidemiology (2)

            Epidemiology, disease assessment and crop losses, pathogen factors in epiphytotics, Analysis          and forecasting of epidemics, Control of plant diseases, Pesticides and their mode of action, use    and abuse of pesticides

            PP 5155. Immunology. (2)

            General introduction to mammalian immune system. Barriers to infection. Evolution.       Complement system. Biological effect of complement. Antibodies and their receptors. Antibody    effector functions. T cell receptors. Major histocompatibility complex. Antibody formation and     generation of diversity. Antigen recognition and  Antigen presentation. B-cell and T-cell         interaction. Immunochemical techniques: Estimation of antibody- Antigen antibody interactions        in solution. Immunoassay with solid phase antigen. Identification and quantitative              assessment. Electrophoresis, SDS-PAGE, Single radial Immunodiffusion SRID,  Immunoblotting, Immunoassay of  antigens. Monoclonal Antibodies, Engineering Ab.              Cellular techniques: Separation of leukocytes based on physical, biological parameters and            antibody coating. Immunohisto-chemistry.

            PP 5156. Integrated Pest Management in the Tropics (pass/fail course)

            This practical training program is designed to provide the students the basic idea behind area-    wide IPM,  understand how to develop a site survey and IPM plan, improve plant health     through cultural strategies, monitor pest populations, maintain records and determine when          pesticide use is appropriate in an integrated approach.

            PP 5197. Internship/Practicum (2)

            PP 5198. Directed Study (1)

            PP 5199. Seminar (1)

            PP 5158. Methods of Invertebrate Ecology

            Methods of Invertebrate sampling, handling, rearing, Assessment methods of insect populations;    Modeling of invertebrate populations; Methods in insect behaviour studies, foraging behaviour     of parasitoids; Assessment methods of bio-control agents; Host specificity testing; Assessment          methods of non-target effects of bio-control agents; Assessment of parasitism; Assessment of     host parasitoid synchronization; current research in invertebrate ecology.      

            PP 5206. Integrated Pest Management (2)

            History of IPM, Economics Injury level and pest status, Assessment of Pest population and crop    losses, Natural regulation of Pest populations, IPM components(Cultural control, Physical and mechanical control, Regulatory control, Biological control, Host Plant Resistance, Sterile Insect      Techniques and Chemical control ) IPM for different cropping systems, Research Extension and       Farmer training, Institutional Aspects of IPM.

Courses Offered in the Second Semester

            PP 5201. Insect Systematics and Identification (2)

            The species concept. Diversity of insect world. Principles of nomenclature and classification,             Diagnostic and special features of major taxa of Superclass Hexapoda, Use and construction of   identification keys, Procedures adopted in identification of insects up to species level. Use of chemotaxonomy and mophometric studies in subspecies level identification.

            PP 5202. Insect Ecology and Behaviour (2)

            Principles of ecology and analysis of the insect environment. Effect of climate and abundance       and distribution of insect populations. Biotic factors in the environment, Intraspecific and         interspecific competition. Models of growth and stability of insect populations, Life table           studies, Use of population dynamics strategies in insect pest control. Forms of insect behaviour.   Functional aspects of behaviour and feeding, flight and defensive behaviour , Physiology of behaviour of social and non-social insects, Mating behaviour, Photoperiodism and insect           behaviour, Communication in insects, hormonal and Pheromonal control of insect behaviour,       Manipulation of ecological factors and insect behavior in insect pest management .

            PP 5203. Nematology (2)

            The morphology, taxonomy, ecology of nematodes parasitic on cultivated crops.

            PP 5204. Biological Control of Agricultural Pests (2)

            Scope of Biological control and concepts of natural regulation, Ecology of Biological control,     Biology and Taxonomy of entomophagous insects, Predator-Prey systems and Host-parasite     systems, Conservation of Augmentation of natural enemies, Classical biological control, Microbial control

            PP 5207. Plant Resistance to Insect Pests (2)

            Insect Plant Interaction, Host Plant Selection in phytophagous insects, Mechanisms of         resistance, Factors affecting expression of resistance, Implementation of Host-plant resistance        program, Role of vector resistance in virus disease control in plants, Case studies

            PP 5208. Molecular Diagnostics for Plant Protection (2)

            Importance of using molecular techniques for the identification of pathogens and pests; field      collection of plant and animal specimens for DNA work; DNA and RNA extraction techniques             form plants, insects and microorganisms; DNA probes and their use in identification of pathogens and pests, PCR as a diagnostic tool; PCR and Non-PCR based diagnostic techniques      to identify plant pathogens and pests; RAPDS, AFLP, SSCP, SSR. Use of special gel           electrophoresis techniques for diagnostics TGGE &DGGE Sources of probes and primers for diagnostics; Nuclear DNA, CpDNA, mtDNA, rDNA, RAPDS & SSRs. Screening for genetic         diversity among plant pathogens and insect pests using molecular tools. Molecular taxonomy,    phylogenetics and data analysis, Case studies.

            PP 5209. Post Harvest Protection (2)

            Causes of losses, Economic importance, Identification of pests and diseases, biology and      damages to stored grain and other harvest products caused by insects and other animals. Cross            infestations, secondary pests, (fungus feeders, scavengers). Microorganisms infecting durable    and perishable products, Mechanisms of deterioration of the produce. Management of post             harvest pests and diseases in Sri Lanka, Control measures, Clean products, drying, cold storage,       pest proof buildings and sealable containers, storage hygiene, avoidance of mechanical damage        and other disease producing situations, removing surface wetness, Chemical methods including

            fumigation.

            PP 5210. Acarology (2)

            External morphology of acarina; segmentation and body regions; integument; mouthparts; legs.        Internal anatomy. General biology: life cycles; feeding habits and habitats. Classification and    identification of acarina. Collection, preservation and preparation of mites for studies,        Description of economically important species of ticks and mites. Control of phytophagous mites and exoparasitic ticks and mites..

            PP 5211. Microorganisms with medical importance (2)

            Microbial pathogens of man. Bacterial pathogens, viruses including HIV as human pathogens.       Laboratory Diagnostic tests, procedures and techniques for identification of human pathogens,       Opportunistic infections, Laboratory requirements and proper lab practice in a medical microbiology lab, Antibiotics and other chemotherapeutic agents, Mode of action of antibiotics.            Microbial resistance to drugs, mechanisms of acquired resistance, Prevention of drug resistance,     common Immunizations. Recombinant vaccines and drug design.

            PP 5212. Aquatic Microbiology and Water Quality. (2)

            Water microbiology aquatic microorganisms. Quality parameters of drinking water. Quality            standards and other indicator microorganisms. Quality tests. Common pollutants of drinking             water and disease associated with them. Pollution and impact of pollution of waterways and           reservoirs. Purification of drinking water and assessment of efficacy. Wastewater management.    Taxonomy & Physiology of Marine Microorganisms. Distribution and metabolic activities of   various marine microbes in Open Ocean, coastal areas and artificial environments such as       harbors. Deep sea habitats. High-pressure laboratory techniques. Biofilms. Diseases caused by        marine microorganisms in seaweeds, fish and algae

            PP 5213. Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology (2)

            Microorganisms in food, their application in agriculture, industry, environment and health sector. Bioreactors. Biogas production and utilization. Survey of application of Microbiology in         biotechnology emphasizing the microbial pesticides, biofertilizer, efficient microorganisms, the            operation of fermentation systems and pharmaceutical industry (recombinant pharmaceuticals).      Case studies of down stream separation & purification protocols on an industrial scale. Protein           engineering and Enzyme biotechnology

            PP 5214. Molecular Plant - Microbe Interactions (2)

            Molecular Biology of Plant Microbe systems. : Beneficial interactions such as legume-Rhizobia        symbiosis, Non-legume N fixing endosymbiosis. PGPR, Mycorrhiza, Endophytes, Epiphytes           etc. Pathogenic systems. Bacterial pathogens. Molecular approaches to achieve durable disease          resistance. Virulence factors and pathogenesis. Modulators of resistance and susceptibility. Cell     to cell interaction. Microbial hormones in Plant development. Signal transduction.- Bacterial          type III effectors . Regulation of plant defense reactions. Recognition of plants by microbes.            Plant virus interactions. Cellular dynamics of interactions. Coordinated expression of plant and

            mycorrhizal genes and their fate in plant. Molecular basis of plant response to microbial        invasion, plant pathogen co-evolution.

            PP 5251. Insect toxins and insect transmission of plant disease (2)

            Studies on the chemical and biological effects of insects feeding on plants and the transmission   of plant disease by insects

            PP 5252. Molecular Virology (2)

            Plant viruses and Mycoplasma like organisms, Molecular Virology. Investigation, biochemistry   and physiology of virus diseases, symptomatology, transmission ,isolation and identification,      Principles of electron microscopy and serology, Specific diseases of important crops and   control. Genomes of plant viruses, replication strategies, viruses as gene vectors, cell to cell        transport, molecular strategies to achieve viral resistance

            PP 5253. Pests and diseases of forests (2)

            Introduction to pathological stress of forest trees, major grouping of leaf, stem and root     diseases, rust, wilt and wound disease, -decay and discoloration, disease diagnosis and      management and tree surgery, Introduction to insect pest damages in forest, factors affecting         abundance of forest insects, bionomics of insect pests of common forest trees in the tropics,     assessment of pest population and extent of their damages in forest, management of forest insect

            pests.

            PP 5254. Disease Management in Floricultural Crops (2)

            Introduction to disease problems in floriculture industry, Pathology, dissemination and      principles of disease management in indoor and outdoor floricultural plants, Diagnosis and             treatment, Recent developments in disease management in floricultural crops.

            PP 5255. Insect Pathology and Microbial Control of Pests (2)

            Types of diseases, recognition and pathology, isolation of insect pathogenic microbes,        maintenance of cultures, testing against pest species, uses in IPM programs, production and            formulation of microbial insecticides, problems of insect pathogens in beneficial insects (silk       worm, honey bees)

            PP 5256. Techniques and Strategies in Plant Molecular Biology (3)

            Arabidopsis methods in plant science, Advanced PCR strategies and PCR primer design,            Sources of information for plant scientists on the web, Computer based molecular sequence    analysis and image analysis, Techniques to isolate and characterize novel plant genes,       Localization techniques to study gene and protein expression in plants, methods in functional             genomics

            PP 5257. Crop Protection in the Tropics (2)

            Prevalence and assessment of damages caused by insect pests, diseases and weeds in tropical           environments, Management strategies for insect pests, diseases and weeds in tropics: cultural,         biological, chemical, physical and mechanical, genetic, regulatory and traditional methods;

Case studies in insect pests, diseases and weed management; Farmer education on eco-friendly pest and crop management; Pesticide management problems in the tropics, emergence of resistance; Quarantine aspects of insect pests, diseases and weeds in the tropics.

           

            PP 5259  Insect pest Management in Horticultural Crops (2)

            Concepts of pest management: conventional and traditional pest management strategies;       Integrated pest management; ecological pest management. Bionomics and management of           insects attacking horticultural crops; common polyphagous insects, aphids, whitefly, thrips, and   fruit fly. Bionomics and management of insects attacking fruit crops. Bionomics and             management of insects attacking vegetables, crucifers, legumes, cucurbits, and leafy vegetables.