Summer Term II
2-credits
Instructor: George LoCascio
E-mail: glocascio@umass.edu
Office hours: email for appointment
(please email instructor if you don’t have the pre-req but would like to take the class, and he will manually register you)
Course Description:
This course will give students an introduction into the common groups of organisms that cause plant disease. We will explore their life cycles and basic biology. We will explore the different signs and symptoms plants exhibit when affected by these many organisms. Students will listen to lectures, participate in discussions, investigate primary literature, take quizzes, and interact with fellow students in an online setting. Get ready to learn the crazy lives of microorganisms and how they affect society!
Student Learning Outcomes:
- Illustrate the fundamental concepts of plant pathology
- Learn to understand the importance of plant diseases and their effects on society
- Understand the basic life and disease cycles of major plant pathogens
- Be able to explain the basic approaches for controlling plant diseases and how these diseases are
caused
Course Structure:
At the beginning of each week, students will be provided with a video lecture and slides. Please view the lecture and lecture slides in order to take the weekly quiz no later than Friday night @11:59 EST.In addition to the lecture, there will be weekly reading and listening assignments on a specific topic.Please read the document(s) and listen to the podcasts and post to the weekly discussion forum no later than Tuesday night,@11:59 EST the following week. There will be guiding questions to get the conversation going. Interacting with fellow students is part of the discussion grade and posting to at least one other students post is required
Suggested Text: (NOT required)
Plant Diseases: Their Biology and Social Impact illustrated Edition by Gail SchumannISBN-10 : 0890541167Grading:Weekly Quizzes 60%Forum posts based on readings and podcasts 40%
Grading:
Weekly Quizzes 60%
Forum posts based on readings and podcasts 40%
Schedule of Topics
Week 1 – Introduction to Plant Pathology
● Listen to lecture
● Listen to podcasts and read the first article
● Post to the class introductions forum
● Post to the discussion board
● Take the first quiz
● https://www.plantopiapodcast.org/1
● https://www.plantopiapodcast.org/3
● https://www.indefenseofplants.com/podcast
Week 2 – Fungus
●Listen to lecture
● Post to discussion board
● Take quiz
●https://www.apsnet.org/edcenter/disimpactmngmnt/HungryPlanet/Chapter12/Pages/Podcast.aspx
●https://www.apsnet.org/edcenter/disimpactmngmnt/HungryPlanet/Chapter2/Pages/Pod
cast.aspx
Week 3 – Bacteria
● Listen to lecture
● Post to discussion board
● Take quiz
● https://hwcdn.libsyn.com/p/b/6/b/b6bdc3887a6ffcbb/BF1
82.mp3?c_id=7602086&cs_i
d=7602086&expiration=1607173733&hwt=059b01f082f
17bd2bfcabbab6974ef3b
Week 4 – Nematodes
● Listen to lecture
● Post to discussion board
● Take quiz
● http://smallgrains.wsu.edu/wsu-wheat-beat-episode-65/
Week 5 – Viruses/Abiotic diseases
● Listen to lecture
● Post to discussion board
● Take quiz
● https://www.talkingbiotechpodcast.com/069-fighting-plant-viruses-with-rna-and-clay/
Week 6 – Epidemiology and Disease control
● Listen to lecture
● Post to discussion board
● Take final quiz
Sustainable Food and Farming Online 