CRS 4101 PLANT PATHOLOGY
2. Lecturer
Dr. Patrick Okori
PhD Plant Breeding and Genetics (Swedish University of Agricultural Science- Uppsala
Sweden),
MSc Crop Science Makerere University
BSc Agriculture (Upper second Class Makerere University)
Member of African Crop Science Society Member of International Society of Plant Pathology
Senior Lecturer)
3. Course Type: CORE (B.Sc. Agric. IV)
4. COURSE STRUCTURE
The course is a 3 credit units (2 contact hours per week for 15 weeks of study) (3 CU i.e. 45 Contact Hours per
semester )and 30 hours of practicals for 15 weeks of study (15 weeks (45 hours) i.e. 30 LH, 30 PH). All lectures will
take place at the Faculty of Agriculture, Post graduate lecture room. All practical sessions will take place in the
postgraduate computer lab or molecular laboratory as necessary
5. COURSE DESCRIPTION
The course will introduce final year undergraduate BSc agriculture Crop Science Option students to concepts and
principles of disease management and introduction to advances in plant pathology and crop protection in general.
Areas to be covered include a recapitulation of major tropical plant pathogenic organisms and disease development
(pathogenesis). Introduction to disease resistance mechanisms in plants, introduction to plant disease epidemiology,
principles and strategies for designing and managing diseases and concepts of integrated disease management and
advances in Plant pathology-molecular plant pathology (systemic acquired resistance, resistance genes,
hypersensitive reaction, methodologies- genomics, transcriptomics and others as applied to plant pathology,
molecular diagnostics.
6. COURSE OBJECTIVES
General objective / aim
The general aim of this course is to equip students with knowledge and skills to develop and implement disease
management strategies for crop plants cultivated in Uganda and Tropics
Specific objectives
1. To equip final year undergraduate BSc. Agriculture (Crop Science Option) students with knowledge for
designing and implementing disease management strategies in for tropical crop plant diseases
2. To build capacity of final year undergraduate BSc. Agriculture (Crop Science Option) as scientists and
practitioners with competencies on advances in Plant pathology and Crop Protection.
7. RECOMMENDED REFERENCES FOR READING
1. Agrios, G.N. 1997. Plant Pathology. 5th Edition. Academic Press, New York.
2. Dashek, W.V. Eds. Methods in Plant Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. CRC Press Boca Raton, New
York, USA.
3. Molecular Plant Pathology: Annual Reviews. Volume 4. Edited by Dickinson and Beynon, J. Sheffield
Academic Press USA: CRC Press UK.
4. American Phytopatholgical
www.apsnet.org/online
society-
Online
resources
on
various
management
8. COURSE CONTENT, METHODS OF INSTRUCTION, TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT REQUIRED
TOPIC
CONTENT
METHOD OF
INSTRUCTION / Time
allocated
1. Recap of major
Interactive Lecture (2
 Review of major groupings of plant
tropical disease and
hrs)
pathogens
their pathogens
i. Fungal and fungi like organisms
ii. Viral, bacteria
iii. Nematodes and other pathogens
2. Disease development  Introduction to parasitism and various types Interactive and regular
in plants
lecture (2 hrs)
of inter specific relationships among plants
and micro-organisms
4 hrs on media
 Pathogenesis and disease development in
preparation and culture
plants (dicots and monocots)
of microbes
Practical 1: Role of host substrate on pathogen
growth in artificial media. Media preparation
3. Plant resistance to
Lecture (2 hrs)
 Introduction to disease resistance
infection
mechanisms in plants
5 hrs on media
 Heritable resistance:
preparation and culture
 Physiological resistance mechanisms to
of microbes
infectious and non infectious diseases
Practical 2: Role of host substrate on pathogen
growth in artificial media- Culture of microbe
4. Plant resistance to
infection
5 Introduction to
epidemiology

Physical resistance mechanisms to
infectious and non infectious diseases

Continuous assignment: on disease
resistance in crop plants due after two
weeks



Definition to plant disease epidemiology
Introduction to disease triangle;
Principles of crop loss assessment
Lecture (2 hrs)


Plant Disease cycles and spread of
diseases
Boom and burst cycle of plant diseases
TOOLS /
EQUIPMENT
NEEDED
LCD Projector
and
Screen,
BB/Chalk,
LCD Projector,
BB/Chalk
Various Microbe
media
Microscope,
petri-dishes
LCD Projector,
BB/Chalk.
Microscope,
diseased
materials
(Ascomycete)
Microbe culture
chambers and
ovens
LCD Projector,
BB/Chalk
Extra reading and take
home assignment
Course book
Plant Pathology
and online
sources from
open learning
resources
Interactive Lecture (2 LCD Projector,
hrs)
BB/Chalk
Course assessment test: to be done as part
of continuous assessment
6 Introduction to
epidemiology
strategies:
Interactive Lecture (2
hrs)
Course book
Plant Pathology
and online
sources from
open learning
resources
LCD Projector,
BB/Chalk
Course book
7 Introduction to
Epidemiology
8. Control of Plant
diseases
9. Control of Plant
diseases
10. Control of Plant
diseases.
11. Control of Plant
diseases.

Plant Pathology
and online
sources from
open learning
resources
LCD Projector,
BB/Chalk
Seminar administered via group work by
students on
i. Role of environment in development
of disease epidemics.
ii. Effects of pathogens in plant
physiological functions.
iii. Control of a new/emergent crop
disease in Uganda.
iv. Mechanisms of Plant resistance to
infection.
 Principles and strategies for designing
disease management operations
i. Shells of protection in disease
management
Methods that exclude pathogen; Methods that
reduce initial inoculum
Seminar and
interactive lecture (2
hrs)
Interactive Lecture (2
hrs)
LCD Projector,
BB/Chalk.

Interactive Lecture (2
hrs)
Course book
Plant Pathology
and online
sources from
open learning
resources
LCD Projector,
BB/Chalk.

Principles and strategies for designing
disease management operations
i. Methods that reduce efficiency of
inoculum
ii. Methods that reduce rates of
epidemics; Destructive control
methods; Methods that reduce initial
inoculum
Alternative methodologies to disease
management
 Biological control strategies
 Plant Quarantine
 Practical 3: Professional visit to Ministry of
Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries,
Plant Quarantine division -Students hand in
field report as part of continuous
assessment
 Cultural control methods
i. Green house cultural control
strategies
ii. Field crops control strategies
Practical 4: Professional visit to commercial
green house and field crops farms -Students
hand in field report as part of continuous
assessment
Lecture (2 hrs)
5 hrs on field trip to
Namalere
Course book
Plant Pathology
and online
sources from
open learning
resources
Course book
Plant Pathology
and online
sources from
open learning
resources
LCD Projector
and
Screen,
BB/Chalk,
Transport 30
seater
Interactive Lecture (2
hrs)
5 hrs on field trip to
Commercial
Horticultural and Field
crops Stations
LCD Projector
and
Screen,
BB/Chalk,
Transport 30
seater
12. Integrated Disease
management (IDM)


13. Advances in plant
protection.
14. Advances in plant
protection.
15. Advances in plant
protection.
Concepts of integrated disease
management: Issues for developing IDM
Course assessment test: to be done as part
of continuous assessment

Introduction to molecular plant pathology
i. Concepts of systemic acquired
resistance
ii. Major and minor resistant genes
iii. Hypertensive reactions
Practical 5: Professional visit to commercial
green house and field crops farms -Students
hand in field report as part of continuous
assessment

Common tools- PCR, and ELISA as
diagnostic tools

Introduction to molecular diagnostic tools
i. Polymerase chain reaction based
approaches
ii. Enzyme Linked Immuno-assorbent assay
(ELISA)
Practical 6: Lab practical to introduce students to
molecular diagnostic tools
Interactive Lecture (2
hrs)
LCD Projector
and
Screen,
BB/Chalk,
Interactive Lecture (2
hrs)
LCD Projector,
BB/Chalk,
6 hrs on field trip to
Field crops Stations
Course book
Molecular Plant
Pathology and
online sources
from open
learning
resources
Interactive Lecture (2
hrs)
Interactive Lecture (2
hrs)
5 hrs on lab to work
Transport 30
seater
LCD Projector,
BB/Chalk,
Course book
Molecular Plant
Pathology and
online sources
BB/Chalk,
PCR thermo
cycler, wet lab
equipment, Elisa
Reader,
assortment of
reagents
Course book
Methods in Plant
Biochemistry
5. SUMMARY OF TIME NEEDED
Interactive lectures and seminars covering theory
Lab based practical
Field visits
30 hrs
14 hrs
16 hrs
6. OVERALL COURSE EVALUATION
Continuous Assessment Test
 At least 2 tests ( first after lecture 5 and second after lecture 12)
 Marked out of 20 each
Continuous Assessment (Assignments, practical, Field work)
 Take home assignment (After week 4 )
20%
20%
 Practical reports cumulatively add up to 20 marks
Final examination
60%