1. HISTORY OF PLANT PATHOLOGY
Traces of history from Vedic and Biblical times, Anton Van deBary times, physiological developments, biochemical basis of interactions etc.
History of Molecular aspects, basics and dawn of Molecular Sciences in the subject of Plant Pathology
Photographs of Legendry figures of the subject
Bibliography
2. PATHOGEN AND DISEASE
Pathogen and Parasite (definition)
Types of pathogens, diseases etc.
Bibliography
3. PHYSIOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF PATHOGEN (PATHOGENESIS)
Introduction
Growth of pathogens, Enzyme activity
Requirement of essential metallic elements, essential non metallic elements, carbon sources, pH, vitamin/Hormone etc.
Bibliography
4. INFECTION PROCESS OF PATHOGENS IN PLANTS
Prepenetration phenomenon (Germination of spore)
Penetration (Direct penetration)
Infection, Invasion, Growth and Reproduction of pathogen (colonization)
Bibliography
5. PHYSIOLOGICAL DISORDERS IN DISEASED PLANTS
Introduction
Effects of infection on Photosynthesis.
Effects of infection on Absorption of water through Roots
Transpiration and Stomatal functioning
Deranged Respiration
Alteration in Permeability of cell membrane, Protein synthesis
Bibliography
6. PATHOGENICITY AND PATHOGENESIS
Introduction
Physiology of variations
Genes and disease
Variability in Pathogens- Mutations, Recombinations, Population genetics, Life cycle, Reproduction, Mating Systems
Sexual cycles in fungi- Heterokaryosis
Variability and genetic recombination in viruses
Bibliography
7. GENETICS OF PATHOGENESIS
Introduction
Pathogenicity genes in plant pathogens
Genes involved in Pathogenesis and virulence in Pathogens
Pathogenicity genes of fungi- for production of infection structures- metabolic activity producing enzymes and toxins
Pathogenicity genes in Plant Pathogenic Bacteria for- adhesion to plant surfaces, production of enzymes, bacterial toxins, extra cellular polysaccharides- sensing plant signaling components
Pathogenicity genes in virus
Functions associated with the coat protein-
Viral pathogenicity genes
Nematode pathogenicity genes
Bibliography
8. FACTORS INFLUENCING PLANT DISEASE DEVELOPMENT
Introduction
Temperature
Moisture
Wind
Light
Host- Plant Nutrition etc.
Bibliography
9. CELL WALL DEGRADING ENZYMES
Introduction
Structure of cell wall- Wax, Lignin, Pectin, Pectinic acid, Hemicellulose, Cellulose
Schematic depiction of structural moieties of complex carbohydrates (Polygalactouronic acid chains)
Enzymes: Wall modifying enzymes
Degradation of Hemicelluloses, celluloses by cellulolytic enzymes
Degradation of Pectin, Pectinic acid by Pectic acid Lyase, Polymethyl Esterase
Factors affecting Enzyme activity- Temperature, pH, substrate etc.
Role of cell wall degrading enzymes in Pathogenesis
Bibliography
10. TOXINS IN PLANT DISEASE
Introduction
What are toxins? Differences between Enzymes and Toxins
Production of Toxins by Microorganisms
Host specific (selective) Toxins of Fungi
Vivotoxins, Alternaria toxins, Phytotoxins, fusaric acid, Lycomarasmine
Verticillium toxins, Victorin, HC-toxin, Helminthosporoside
Bacerial toxins
Effect of toxins
On cell membrane, on respiration, on stomatal regulations, on translocation of solutes
Role of toxins in disease development
Bibliography
11. DEFENSE MECHANISM IN PLANTS:
Introduction
Pre existing structural and chemical defenses
Defense through lack of essential factors-(Nutrition, Biochemical-membrane resistance, cell wall components)
Induced resistance, cell wall defense structures, Fungal Elicitors, Phytoalexins, Phenolics, Simple Phenolic Compounds
Role of phenol oxidizing enzymes in Disease resistance.
Systemic Acquired Resistance (SAR)
Detoxication of pathogen toxins by plants
Pathogenicity Related Proteins (PRP)
Production of Active oxygen species
Hypersensitive Response Genes-Classes of R Gene proteins
Bibliography
12. DISEASE RESISTANCE IN PLANTS:
Introduction
Genetics of Resistance
Hypersensitive Response
Pathogen derived Elicitors of Defense Response in plants
Avirulence (avr) genes vis-a vis Pathogenicity and virulence, hrp genes and the type iii secretion system
Resistance genes (R) of plants, evolution and mechanism of R genes
Signal transduction-Signaling and Regulation of Programmed Cell Death (PCD)
Genes and Signaling in Systemic Acquired Resistance (SAR)
True resistance, Partial, Quantitative, Polygenic or Horizontal Resistance, Monogenic or Vertical Resistance, Disease Escape- Tolerance to Disease
Gene pyramiding
Bibliography
13. MOLECULAR BASIS OF HOST PATHOGEN INTERACTIONS
Introduction
Molecular aspect of host pathogen recognition
Gene for Gene hypothesis
Molecular Diagnosis of pathogens, specifically viruses
Role of cell wall components in pathogenicity, plant cell membrane composition and susceptibility.
Molecular dialogue between host and pathogens.
Quorum sensing
Bibliography
14. PHYSIOLOGICAL AND MOLECULAR BASIS OF PLANT DISEASE CONTROL
Introduction
Cultural practices, Soil nutrition, Fertilizers, Alterations in Host-Plant Nutrition affecting inoculum potential and Growth of pathogens
Alterations in Soil pH, age of host
Control through Transgenics and resistant genes
Showing Tolerance against abiotic stress
Tolerance against pathogens
Transgenic biocontrol Microbial agents
Transgenic against Viruses
Bacteriophages for plant disease control
RNAi and pathogen inhibition
Applying modern diagnostics for plant disease control
Bibliography
15. BIOINFORMATICS
Introduction, Disease forecasting for epidemics
Disease Triangle/ Epidemiology.
Molecular Tools/ GIS/Remote sensing/Image analysis/Information technology
Disease Support System
Computer Simulations Epidemics
Bibliography
16. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY
Introduction
Biotechnological approaches for plant disease control
Genetic transformations in plants using foreign genes
Examples of GM crops
Biosafety issues
GM crops and organic Agriculture
GM crops and biodiversity
Ice nucleating bacteria
Bibliography
17. PLANT PATHOLOGY, BIOTECHNOLOGY, SOCIETY, ETHICS AND ENVIRONMENT
Aspects of Applied Plant Pathology
Food safety, Issues related to plant biotechnology
Bioterrorism, Agroterrorism, Biological Warfare etc.
Some historical and present examples of losses caused by plant diseases and impact on human life styles
Pesticides, plant diseases, occupational diseases in human/animals and Environment/ biodiversity
Bibliography
Subject Index
