CRS6223: Epidemiology and Pest Management

The aim of the course is to provide learners with an understanding of population dynamics and epidemiology of plant pests and diseases in relation to their regulating factors and interactions with plants, management of pests and diseases of economic importance to agriculture. The course is designed to provide learners with knowledge and good understanding of how pests and pathogens are spread, and how this relates to the damage they cause, of different pest and disease control options tailored towards farmers’ conditions, which can be deployed sustainably with minimal risks to the society and environment. Based on this, learners should also be able to apply this knowledge in order to reduce damage in different farming systems in a sustainable way. The course focuses on lectures, seminars and case studies. The course focuses on lectures and literature seminars. 

Learning Outcomes 

1. Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed the module, learners should be able to demonstrate understanding of:  

• Ecological principles to the study of plant pests and pathogens. 

• Occurrence of pests and diseases and their dependence on regulating factors such as climate, cultural techniques and other organisms in the agricultural landscape.

• Basic mathematical methods used to study and describe pest and pathogen dynamics and epidemiology. 

• Methods used in assessment of plant damage.

• Infection processes and disease and pest cycles 

• Population dynamics, epidemiology, and forecasting

• Management strategies for disease and pest control in field crops and green house

• Pesticide resistance in pests and diseases

• Diagnosis and assessment of biotic-induced plant damage.

• The concept of economic threshold

• Chemical control options and their use to controlling pests and diseases

• Non-chemical control options and their use to controlling pests and diseases

• Safe use and handling of pesticides

• Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

2. Cognitive/Intellectual Skills/Application of Knowledge

Having successfully completed the module, learners should be able to: 

1. Evaluate and assess common plant pathogen caused pests and diseases

2. Plan and manage control measures to control plant pests and pathogens

3. Fit these statistical models to observed data in order to derive the parameters that describe disease epidemics

4. Judge the relative importance of various disease control options based on the epidemiology of pests and diseases in questions.

5. Critically analyze pests and diseases problems, according to the prevailing conditions, before recommending control measures.

6. Use his/her judgement to recommend the most practical, effective, economical, risk-free and locally available pests and diseases management options

3. Communication/ICT/Numeracy/Analytic Techniques/Practical Skills

Having successfully completed the course, learners should be able to: 

• Effectively diagnose diseased or pest infected plant samples using observational methods as well as basic analytical instruments (field and lab)

• Based on facts, design an appropriate pest/disease management strategy or combination of strategies to efficiently reduce or control crop losses

• Develop collection and sampling strategies to assess plant damage for a given plant

• Apply appropriate control measures with respect to a sustainable management.

• Seeking and evaluating information within the subject area and to present his information in appropriate form.

• Use a wide range of appropriate software solutions to address identified problems

• Communicate pests and diseases management techniques to a wide range of audiences, being able to first critically analyze the audience needs

4. Generic cognitive skills

Having successfully completed the module, students must be able to demonstrate the following skills:

1. Deal with complex issues and make an informed judgement in the absence of complete data,

2. Analyse, evaluate and synthesise issues, in a complex which is at the forefront of knowledge,

3. Demonstrate original responses to problems and issues

E. Autonomy, responsibility and working with others

1. Exercise initiative and personal responsibility 

2. Demonstrate self-direction and originality in tackling and solving problems,

3. Act autonomously in planning and implementing decisions at a professional level,

4. Demonstrate the skills of life-long learning in his/her own discipline,

5. Demonstrate the skills of leadership and the management of resources

9.  Indicative Content

• Basic population dynamics, epidemiology and forecasting

• Vectors of pathogens.

• Collection and sampling strategies to monitor pests and diseases causing plant damage.

• Infection processes and life cycles of diseases and pests

• Population dynamics, epidemiology, and forecasting

• Life cycles in relation to interactions between plants and their attackers.

• Management strategies for disease and pest control

• Commercial agriculture pest problems –green/screen house

• Diagnosis of plant pathogens and pests

• Economic aspects of plant diseases and pests management

• Principles of chemical use in management of plant pests and diseases

• Mechanisms of host plant resistance and deployment of resistance in management of plant pests and diseases

• Principles of using biological agents in management of plant pests and diseases

• Utilization of cultural practices in plant pests and diseases management

• Integrated Pest Management

• Fundamentals of pests and diseases monitoring and surveillance

• Pesticides composition, mode of action, persistance, 

• Safe practice in handling and transport, 

10. Learning and Teaching Strategy

The learning strategy will rely on lectures, practicals (lab and field) and self-reading using lecture notes, supplemental materials given as references as well as other related materials that students may wish to refer to. Case studies will be discussed in class and students will be tested on their level of understanding of the materials covered in class. 

11. Assessment Strategy

1. Examination: Continuous Assessment Tests (CAT) and final examination. Examinations will cover lectures, assigned reading materials, and discussions;

2. The assignments will be graded on individual basis and on each component of the module; 

3. Field and laboratory practical reports will be evaluated.

• Two course work tests (continuous and cumulative)

• Final examination on the module