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Fungi and plant diseases

Course Description: This course covers plant diseases and mycology. It begins with an introduction to the economic importance of plant diseases and the history of plant pathology. It also explains the impact of pathogens on plant physiological processes, the mechanisms by which pathogens infect plants, how plants defend themselves, and the general principles of plant disease resistance. The course also includes the study of fungal morphology, structure, and characteristics, the formation of fungal mycelium, the presence of fungi in different environments, their feeding patterns, symbiotic relationships, and their economic importance. It also addresses the general principles of fungal classification with applied examples. The course covers the general characteristics of different fungal divisions such as Mastigomycota and Amastigomycota (including Zygomycetes, Ascomycetes, Basidiomycetes, and Deuteromycetes), with examples of pathogenic fungi and a study of their life cycles. It also includes a general review of the scientific content.

Credit hours: 3

Prerequisites: 330 BIO

Objectives of the course :

The course aims to enable students to:

The definition of plant pathology and the types of plant diseases, through a description of various symptoms and their causative agents.
Verifying plant disease occurrence using Koch's postulates.
Comparison of different plant disease symptoms through the study of multiple examples.
Predicting the occurrence of the disease and its causative agent and taxonomic classification, and determining appropriate control methods through symptom analysis and examination of infected tissues.
Selecting appropriate techniques and procedures to achieve scientific results and interpret observations through discussion and report writing.
Explanation of fundamental knowledge for handling plant diseases and addressing related problems in applied fields.
Interpreting experimental results using statistical analysis.
Assessing the prevalence of plant diseases and their control methods using modern techniques.

Course outputs :

Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Knowledge and Understanding
Definition of Plant Pathology and Types of Plant Diseases through Description of Symptoms and Etiological Agents.

Skills
Applying Koch's Postulates for Verifying Plant Pathogens in Practical Situations.
Analysis and comparison of different plant disease symptoms based on laboratory data and experiments.
Diagnosis of plant diseases, identification of causative agents, and their classification based on morphological characteristics and empirical data.
Using appropriate laboratory techniques and procedures to study plant diseases, with the recording and documentation of results in organized scientific reports.
Applying scientific knowledge to solve plant disease problems in applied contexts (agricultural or laboratory).
Interpreting experimental results using appropriate statistical analysis methods.

Values, Autonomy, and Responsibility
Assessing the spread of plant diseases and determining their control methods using modern, scientifically responsible technologies.

Additional information:

This course contributes to preparing graduates for the job market by developing specialized skills in plant and fungal diseases, which are vital areas linked to food security and sustainable agricultural development. Key areas of employment and application include:

Agricultural Sector: Work in diagnosing plant diseases and improving crop productivity.
Agricultural and Research Laboratories: Analyzing Pathogens and Developing Control Measures.
Pesticide and Fertilizer Companies: Development and Evaluation of Plant Disease Control Products.
Environmental and regulatory bodies: Monitoring the spread of plant diseases and protecting plant resources.
Food Safety Field: Reducing the Impact of Mycotoxin-Producing Fungi on Food.

The course enhances analytical thinking skills, laboratory work, and scientific report writing, which are essential skills required in the job market in the fields of agriculture, biotechnology, and scientific research.

Last updated: 2026-04-20