CPSC30100 Emerging Crop Pathogens

Academic Year 2022/2023

Plant disease severely impedes crop yields and quality resulting in the loss of 10% global food production. In Ireland disease caused by plant pathogens threatens cereal and horticultural crop yields as well as forests.
Due to an increased movement of people and plants, together with a changing climate, the range of plant pathogens is moving and expanding. The agricultural and fuel sectors are vulnerable to pathogen attack via natural or introduced pathogen threats. This has important implications for the crop plants that we use for agricultural as well as recreational purposes. Recently crop pathogens have been given widespread news coverage. Managing the assocaited risks requires the ability to monitor, prevent as well as respond effectively to disease events.
Therefore it is important to understand the causes of such disease outbreaks and develop the problem solving skills to develop control solutions. Central to the module is the use of case studies, in class discussion and problem based learning.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

On successfully completing this module you will be able to-
 Describe the different genetic, evolutionary, human and climatic factors that lead to the emergence of a new pathogen.
 Suggest different methods to identify plant pathogens including the use of new technologies.
 Critically assess techniques for the detection and control of plant pathogens.
Suggest control measures for emerging crop, horticultural and forestry pathogens.
Demonstrate a critical awareness of, current problems and new insights in Crop and forest security.
 Evaluate critically and summarise the issues (current research and control measure for plant pathogens).

Personal and inter-personal skills:
 Solve problems with self-direction and originality, and be able to plan and implement tasks.
 Demonstrate effective communication of the issues around emerging crop pathogens and the suggested control.
Communicate your conclusions clearly to a non-specialist audience.

Indicative Module Content:

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

17
Small Group

5
Specified Learning Activities

45
Autonomous Student Learning

38
Total

105
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
The module includes the following approaches to teaching and learning:

-weekly lectures
-two practical classes to trap and identify plant pathogens in the soil
-active/task-based learning on a crop pathogen project (assessment)
-student presentations with peer input (assessment) 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Project: Throughout the semester students will work on a project investigating an emerging crop pathogen of their own choice. An information leaflet summarising the project will be submitted. Coursework (End of Trimester) n/a Graded Yes

60
Presentation: Throughout the semester students will work on a project investigating an emerging crop pathogen of their own choice. A talk or animation will be given on the project towards the end of the semester. Coursework (End of Trimester) n/a Graded Yes

40

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, on an activity or draft prior to summative assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

There will be opportunity for project and presentation drafts to be worked on in class. Students will have the opportunity for feedback at the end of each class. There will also be a draft submission deadline where students receive written feedback on their project before the final submission and assessment.

Name Role
Mr Eoghan Curran Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Amir Mirzadi Gohari Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Sujit Jung Karki Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Mr Steven Kildea Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Olga Lastovetsky Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Professor Kevin McDonnell Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Anna Tiley Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Nikolaos Mastrodimos Tutor