Bruce McDonald: Catalogue data in Autumn Semester 2018

Name Prof. Dr. Bruce McDonald
FieldPhytopathologie
Address
Institut für Integrative Biologie
ETH Zürich, LFW B 16
Universitätstrasse 2
8092 Zürich
SWITZERLAND
Telephone+41 44 632 38 47
Fax+41 44 632 15 72
E-mailbruce.mcdonald@usys.ethz.ch
DepartmentEnvironmental Systems Science
RelationshipFull Professor

NumberTitleECTSHoursLecturers
551-0355-00LPhytopathology Restricted registration - show details
Number of participants limited to 12.

The enrolment is done by the D-BIOL study administration.
6 credits7GM. Maurhofer Bringolf, B. McDonald
AbstractFundamentals (theoretical and practical) in phytopathology, eg. interaction between plants and plant-pathogenic microorganisms, morphology and lifecycles of plant-pathogenic fungi, evolution of plant-pathogenic fungi, biological control of plant diseases
ObjectiveFundamentals (theoretical and practical) in phytopathology, eg. interaction between plants and plant-pathogenic microorganisms, morphology and lifecycles of plant-pathogenic fungi, evolution of plant-pathogenic fungi, biological control of plant diseases

Insight into ongoing research projects
ContentPractical courses:

Experiments within ongoing phytopathological research projects
Macro- and microscopic diagnostic of plant diseases

Theoretical courses:

Fundamentals of phytopathology, eg. interaction between plants and plant-pathogenic microorganisms, morphology and lifecycles of plant-pathogenic fungi, evolution of plant-pathogenic fungi, biological control of plant diseases

Teaching language is english and german.
Lecture noteswill be distributed at the beginning of the course
751-0206-00LApplied Laboratory Techniques in Agricultural Sciences Restricted registration - show details
The course is compulsory for students in 5th semester BSc Agricultural Sciences.
4 credits4PG. Broggini, N. Buchmann, K. Giller, M. Hartmann, B. McDonald, S. Neuenschwander, M. Saenz de Juano Ribes, B. Studer, A. Walter
AbstractDie Lehrveranstaltung ist zweiteilig aus einem Laborpraktikum und einem angewandten Methodentraining aufgebaut. Im Laborpraktikum werden an 6 Kurstagen die wichtigsten Techniken der Molekularbiologie gelehrt. Das folgende Methodentraining findet an 5 Kurstagen im Block in einer der beteiligten Forschungsgruppen statt, um die wichtigsten Methoden aus dem jeweiligen Fachgebiet praxisnah anzuwenden.
Objective- Aneignung von guter Laborpraxis (Sicherheit, Effizienz, Qualität und Dokumentation)

- Erlernen der wichtigsten Labor- und Feldmethoden in den Agrarwissenschaften sowie deren korrekte und sichere Anwendung

- Vertieftes Verständnis von molekularen, physiologischen und biochemischen Prozessen in aktuellen agrarwissenschaftlichen Themenbereichen

- Aneignung von Kompetenzen für zukünftige Bachelor-, Master-, und Doktorarbeiten

- Kritische Beurteilung der angewandten Methoden für verantwortungsvolle Forschung
ContentMolekularbiologisches Laborpraktikum: DNA Extraktion, DNA Quantifizierung, PCR, Molekulare Marker, Gelelektrophorese, DNA Sequenzierung, Bioinformatik, qPCR

Angewandtes Methodentraining: Inhalte definiert durch die jeweiligen Arbeitsgruppen
Lecture notesLaborjournal
LiteratureWird einsprechend den Kursinhalten abgegeben.
751-4504-00LPlant Pathology I2 credits2GB. McDonald
AbstractPlant Pathology I will focus on pathogen-plant interactions, epidemiology, disease assessment, and disease development in agroecosystems. Themes will include: 1) how pathogens attack plants and; 2) how plants defend themselves against pathogens; 3) factors driving the development of epidemics in agroecosystems.
ObjectiveStudents will understand: 1) how pathogens attack plants and; 2) how plants defend themselves against pathogens; 3) factors driving the development of epidemics in agroecosystems as a basis for implementing disease management strategies in agroecosystems.
ContentCourse description: Plant Pathology I will focus on pathogen-plant interactions, epidemiology, disease assessment, and disease development in agroecosystems. Themes will include: 1) how pathogens attack plants and; 2) how plants defend themselves against pathogens; 3) factors driving the development of epidemics in agroecosystems. Topics under the first theme will include pathogen life cycles, disease cycles, and an overview of plant pathogenic nematodes, viruses, bacteria, and fungi. Topics under the second theme will include plant defense strategies, host range, passive and active defenses, and chemical and structural defenses. Topics under the third theme will include the disease triangle and cultural control strategies.

Lecture Topics and Tentative Schedule

Week 1 No Lecture: First day of autumn semester

Week 2 The nature of plant diseases, symbiosis, parasites, mutualism, biotrophs and necrotrophs, disease cycles and pathogen life cycles. Nematode attack strategies and types of damage.

Week 3 Viral pathogens, classification, reproduction and transmission, attack strategies and types of damage. Examples TMV, BYDV, plum pox virus. Bacterial pathogens and phytoplasmas, classification, reproduction and transmission. Bacterial attack strategies and symptoms. Example bacterial diseases: fire blight, Agrobacterium crown gall, soft rots.

Week 4 Fungal pathogens, classification, growth and reproduction, sexual and asexual spores, transmission. Fungal life cycles, disease cycles, infection processes, colonization, phytotoxins and mycotoxins. Attack strategies of fungal necrotrophs and biotrophs.

Week 5 Symptoms and signs of fungal infection. Example fungal diseases: potato late blight, wheat stem rust, grape powdery mildew, wheat Septoria leaf blotch.

Week 6 Plant defense mechanisms, host range and non-host resistance. Passive structural and chemical defenses, preformed chemical defenses. Active structural defense, papillae, active chemical defense, hypersensitive response, pathogenesis-related (PR) proteins, phytoalexins and disease resistance.

Week 7 Pisatin and pisatin demethylase. Local and systemic acquired resistance, signal molecules.

Week 8 Pathogen effects on food quality and safety.

Week 9 Epidemiology: historical epidemics, disease pyramid, environmental effects on epidemic development. Plant effects on development of epidemics, including resistance, physiology, density, uniformity.

Week 10 Disease assessment: incidence and severity measures, keys, diagrams, scales, measurement errors. Correlations between incidence and severity.

Week 11 Molecular detection and diagnosis of pathogens. Host indexing, serology, monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies. ELISA, PCR, rDNA and rep-PCR.

Week 12 Strategies for minimizing disease risks: principles of disease control and management.

Week 13 Disease control strategies: economic thresholds, physical control methods.

Week 14 Cultural control methods: avoidance, tillage practices, crop sanitation, fertilizers, crop rotation.
Lecture notesDetailed lecture notes (~160 pages) will be available for purchase at the cost of reproduction at the start of the semester.