Course ID: | PATH(BIOL)(GENE)(PBIO) 6910. 3 hours. |
Course Title: | Genetics of Host Plant Resistance to Disease |
Course Description: | Genetic mechanisms and basic biological processes of host plant
resistance in crop plants. The course will also cover the
structure, function and evolution of disease resistant loci,
long-term goals of agriculture for improvement of disease
resistance, and purposed methods for crop protection against
plant pathogens. |
Oasis Title: | BIO HOST PLANT RES |
Prerequisite: | PATH 3530-3530L or GENE(BIOL) 3200 or PGEN 3580 or PBIO(CRSS)(BIOL) 4500/6500 or permission of department |
Semester Course Offered: | Offered spring semester every odd-numbered year. |
Grading System: | A-F (Traditional) |
|
Course Objectives: | The course dynamics will influence students to develop a depth
and breadth of knowledge that will allow them to understand and
develop basic and applied biological questions concerning plant-
pathogen interactions and crop improvement. The topics in this
course will be covered through lectures, review of classic and
recent journal articles, class discussions, guest speakers and
student presentations. It is expected through successful
completion of this course the student will:
1. Understand the history of host plant resistance in
agronomically important crops and its significance to
agriculture and crop improvement.
2. Gain an understanding of the genetic and molecular basis of
resistance in crop plants, mechanisms directing plant
resistance to various pathogens and strategies pathogens use to
evade plant resistance gene (R-gene) recognition.
3. Comprehend the structure, function and evolution of plant
disease resistance loci, the nature of selection at these loci
and significance of selection in creating novel resistance
phenotypes.
4. Know the genetic and biotechnological methods and strategies
currently used for crop protection and development of cultivars
with durable resistance.
5. Learn to critically and logically interpret the literature
(journal articles) regarding host plant resistance and develop
a research project from these interpretations.
Course Requirements:
Students are expected to attend all classes on time. Reading
and homework assignments are to be completed prior to class. Be
prepared to discuss assigned reading/papers and ask questions.
Active participation in class discussions is required and will
be evaluated. Quizzes and homework will cover information from
assigned reading as well as topic discussions from papers
presented by students or guest speakers. Any topics already
covered in class are potential material for quizzes. Students
will be required to prepare and present one topic paper to the
class toward the end of the semester. Selected topics must be
directly related to material covered in the course and receive
instructor approval. Presentation guidelines and expectations
will be disseminated to the students. |
Topical Outline: | Outline of Course Topics (in approximate order):
I. Introduction
A. History of host plant resistance and importance to
agriculture
B. Terminology
II. Qualitative Resistance
A. Mendelian inheritance
B. Gene-for-Gene and other models
C. Epistatic and environmental interactions
D. Allelism and linkage
III. Quantitative Resistance
A. Measurement of quantitative resistance
B. Inheritance of quantitative resistance
C. QTL (quantitative trait loci) analysis
IV. Host-pathogen Co-evolution
A. Genetic structure of plant populations
B. Genetic structure of pathogen populations
C. Plant pathogen co-evolution
D. Strategies for durable resistance
V. Breeding for Resistance (guest speakers)
A. Self pollinated crops
B. Cross pollinated crops
VI. Biotechnology for Resistance
A. Gene mapping and marker assisted selection
B. Families of resistance and avirulence genes
C. Transgenic resistance strategies
VII. Student Presentations |
Honor Code Reference: | Students should refer to the handbook "A Culture of Honesty"
for the policies and procedures on academic honesty at The
University of Georgia. Students are encouraged to collaborate
when it pertains to discussion of course topics. However,
students are expected to individually demonstrate a thorough
understanding of the material through working problem sets and
quizzes. All testing materials and presentations with respect
to intellectual content are to be completed independently. |