BIOL-314 INTRODUCTION OF FUNGI, LICHEN AND PLANT PATHOOGY-

Important plant pathogenic organisms, different groups, fungi, bacteria, fastidious vesicular bacteria, phytoplasmas, spiroplasmas, viruses, viriods, algae, protozoa and phanerogamic parasites with examples of diseases caused by them, Prokaryotes: classification of prokaryotes according to Bergey’s Manual of Systematic Bacteriology, General Characters of fungi, Definition of fungus, somatic structures, types of fungal thalli, fungal tissues, modifications of thallus, reproduction in fungi (asexual and sexual), Nomenclature, Binomial system of nomenclature, rules of nomenclature, classification of fungi, Key to divisions and sub- divisions, Introduction: Definition and objectives of Plant Pathology, History of Plant Pathology, Terms and concepts in Plant Pathology, Survival and Dispersal of Plant Pathogens, Phenomenon of infection – pre- penetration, penetration and post penetration, Pathogenesis – Role of enzymes, toxins, growth regulators and polysaccharides, Defense mechanism in plants – Structural and Bio-chemical (pre and postinfection), Plant disease epidemiology, Plant Disease Forcasting – Remote sensing – General principles of plant diseasesmanagement – Importance, general Principles – Avoidance, exclusion, protection – Plant Quarantine and Inspection – Quarantine Rules and
Regulations, Cultural methods – Rougeing, eradication of alternate and collateral hosts, crop rotation, manure and fertilizer management, mixed cropping, sanitation, hot weather ploughing, soil amendments, time of sowing, seed rate and plant density, irrigation and drainage, Role and mechanisms of biological control and PGPR, Physical Methods – Heat and Chemical methods – Methods of application of fungicides, Host plant resistance – Application of biotechnology in plant disease management – Development of disease resistant treansgenic plants through gene cloning, Integrated plant disease management (IDM) – Concept, advantages and importance.

Practical: Acquaintance to plant pathology laboratory and equipments; Preparation of culture media for fungi and bacteria; Isolation techniques, preservation of disease samples; Study of Pythium, Phytophthora and Albugo; Study of Sclerospora, Peronosclerospora, Pseudoperonospora, Peronospora, Plasmopara and Bremia; Study of genera Mucor and Rhizopus, Study of Oidium, Oidiopsis, Ovulariopsis, Erysiphe, Phyllactinia, Uncinula and Podosphaera; Study of Puccinia (different stages), Uromyces, Hemiliea; Study of Sphacelotheca, Ustilago and Tolyposporium; Study of Agaricus, Pleurotus and Ganoderma; Study of Septoria, Colletotrichum, Pestalotiopsis and Pyricularia; Study of Aspergillus, Penicillium, Trichoderma, and Fusarium; Study of Helminthosporium, Drechslera, Alternaria, Stemphyllium, Cercospora, Phaeoisariopsis, Rhizoctonia and Sclerotium; Demonstration of Koch’s postulates; Study of different groups of fungicides and antibiotics; Preparation of fungicides – Bordeaux mixture, Bordeaux paste, Chestnut compound; Methods of application of fungicides – seed, soil and foliar; Bio-assay of fungicides – poisoned food technique, inhibition zone technique and slide germination technique; Bio-control of plant pathogens – dual culture technique, seed treatment, Visitto quarantine station and remote sensing laboratory.