Course Description:
Nematodes are
microscopic animal pathogens of plants that are often overlooked or not given
enough importance as organisms that need studying. It is also labour intensive
to study nematodes that many overlook how interesting they are. However, the
cropping patterns in the world, especially in the United States is changing
from wheat, to more of corn and soybeans. With the changing cropping systems,
the pathogens are also changing and nematode pathogens are gaining economic
importance. This course is designed to equip budding plant pathologists,
especially graduate students, with a more thorough understanding of nematode
classification, analysis and understanding of common nematode diseases. The
course also intends to help students identify interesting research questions in
nematology, especially in molecular nematology.
Prerequisites:
Students who
intend to take this class must have completed PlPa 2001 – “Introductory Plant
Pathology”. Prior knowledge of basic molecular biology is also expected.
Students in the molecular track of Plant Pathology programme should complete
basic molecular biology by default. Students from the standard track willing to
take this course must contact the instructor before registering for the course
as the track has no molecular biology requirement.
Instructor: Deepak Haarith
(deepak@umn.edu)
412 Stakman Hall, University of
Minnesota, St. Paul
Office hours: 9:00 am to 11:00 am
on Thursdays and Fridays
Class hours: 10:00 am to 11:30 am
and 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm on Mondays and Wednesdays
Class duration: 5 weeks; No. of Credits: 2; Location: 291 Borlaug Hall – Teaching laboratory
Course Objectives:
At the end of
the course, the student must be able to
1) Understand
basic morphology and taxonomy of common plant parasitic nematodes
2) Classify
different plant parasitic nematodes based on their feeding habits, morphology,
ecological niche, and host specificity
3) Critically
evaluate different nematode extraction procedures and community analysis
methods
4) Develop
multilateral approach and research questions to important nematode diseases and
their control methods.
Schedule:
Date
|
Topic for learning
|
Assignments and activities
|
July 10
|
Introduction, nematode
morphology, and anatomy
|
100-word paragraph on your
ideas about nematodes.
|
July 12
|
Feeding habits, symptom, signs;
nematode extraction
|
FIELD
TRIP DAY
Assemble in class at 8 am.
Return at 6 pm. Pack lunch. More details below.
|
Soybean cyst nematode field
symptoms, scouting SCN; visit field plots, variety trials.
|
Activity: Quiz 1
|
|
Nematode extraction
demonstration
|
||
July 17
|
Nematode classification,
nematode population, and community;
|
Summary
1 due before class
|
Temporary slide preparation,
nematode trophic identification, nematode community analysis
|
||
July 19
|
Ectoparasites, shoot
nematodes
|
Activity: Quiz 2
|
Ectoparasites – Xiphinema, Hoplolaimus, Belonolaimus,
Helicotylenchus, Criconemella
|
||
July 24
|
Migratory
endoparasities, sedentary
nematodes – Part 1 cyst nematodes, and Reniform nematodes
|
Summary 2 due before class
|
foliar nematodes - Bursaphelenchus,
and Aphelenchoides
|
||
July 26
|
nematode interaction,
interaction with microbial pathogens; discussion -- parasitism
|
Activity: Quiz 3
|
Staining roots for examining
nematodes; migratory endoparasite – Pratylenchus,
Sedentary parasites: Heterodera, Rotylenchulus, Meloidogyne
|
||
July 31
|
Biological control of nematodes
|
Summary
3 due before class
|
No laboratory learning
|
Special laboratory spotters
quiz
|
|
Aug 2
|
Debate on current topics in
nematology
|
Case study report due before
class
|
Field visit: The venue would be University
of Minnesota Southern Research & Outreach Centre, Waseca, MN 56093.
Students are requested to make their own arrangements to reach the research
station which is located 80 miles south of the twin-cities campus. If needed,
the class can hire a vehicle from the university fleet and share the expenses.
Field visit includes observation of symptoms as well as demonstration of key
techniques in nematode extraction principles, with special focus towards
Soybean Cyst Nematodes.
Grading:
Attendance and
Participation - 50% - 150 points
Three summary
assignments – 30% - 90 points
Final case
study report – 20% - 60 points
Total - 100% -
300 points
A – 285 – 300
points
B – 255 – 284 points
C – 225 – 254
points
D – 195 – 224
points
E – 180 – 194
points
F – 0 – 179
points
Course Policies
Attendance and Participation:
This is a
summer course with equal weightage to theory and laboratory. Fresh nematode
materials and samples can only be sourced during summer. Attendance and
participation in class activities have the highest weightage in the total
grade. Three quizzes as well as surprise spotter identification and class
discussions would gauge student participation in the class. All classes are
compulsory as laboratory and theory are learnt together. Any student with prior
scholarly commitments such as conferences must inform the instructor and obtain
leave of absence. Arrangements for an alternate laboratory session will be
made.
Late submission
policy:
Students are required to turn in assignments
before class on specified dates. Should the students need more time to work on
an assignment, they must seek permission with valid reasons 48h prior to the
submission deadline via email. Assignments turned in late would have a penalty
of 25% of points earned by the student if prior permission is not sought.
Description of
assignments:
Scheduled quizzes – These will be a series of three 15-minute,
multiple choice type quizzes conducted at the beginning of the class. These
quizzes will be based on cumulative learning – all topics covered until that
point will be the basis of testing. There will be one laboratory spotters quiz
which would test the students, at the end of all the three sessions, on
cumulative nematode identification knowledge obtained by the students.
Surprise spotters – On any given day, microscopic spotters will
be given to students for identification. These spotters will be based on
materials observed by the students in the previous laboratory sessions. This
might also involve testing of certain techniques that were demonstrated and
practiced in the previous sessions.
Section based
summaries – The entire course
is divided into three parts. At the end of each part, the students are required
to submit a section summary. This will be either a write up or any other
creative demonstration (animation video or slides etc., created by the student)
of topics learnt by the student in that section. These are non-cumulative
unlike the quizzes.
References and Class
discussions - There is no single
prescribed textbook for the course. Class discussions will be based on readings
that will be assigned every Friday. Contribution to class discussions carry 50%
of the total 150 points towards attendance and participation. Each discussion
will be co-facilitated by a different student, chosen in a random manner.
Essential notes and handouts will be circulated at the beginning of each class
session.
Debate on current
topics in nematology – A series of
questions based on the readings and discussions held in the class throughout
the semester will be on the floor for open debates. Student participation in
this debate is geared to assess the understanding of critical concepts and
lacunae in the field, by the student. Debate questions will be sent to students
one day before the debate. All students are required to take a stand on all the
questions and express the same in the class with valid supporting documents or
research.
Case study reports – This is the final report due on the last day
of classes. At the end of the second session, students will be given a list of
top economically important nematode diseases in the world. The students are
required to deliberate and choose two topics that interest them the most and
send an email to the instructor within 48 hours. The instructor will then pair
up students based on their interests. Each pair of students are expected to
write a mini-review on the chosen topic. Criteria for choosing research
articles, length and other specifications of the mini-review will be circulated
to the students during the immediate following class session.
Assignment grading
policy:
All assignments, including the final case study
mini-review will be returned within a week of submission. Grades will be based
on content, logical flow, quality of references and grammar quality. Any
grading issues must be brought to the instructor during the office hours only
or by appointment.
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