701-0563-00L  Forest and Tree Diseases

SemesterAutumn Semester 2016
LecturersT. N. Sieber
Periodicityyearly recurring course
Language of instructionGerman


AbstractDiseases and abiotic damage influence the use and maintenance of forest ecosystems, tree populations and individual trees. This course provides a basic overview of important infectious diseases and abiotic damage in woody plants, with a focus on Central Europe.
ObjectiveStudents are able to
- describe the basic processes of pathogenesis in trees.
- explain methods of disease diagnosis and control.
- name and identify ecologically or economically significant tree and forest diseases.
ContentThe concept of 'Forest Health', history of forest pathology, environment and disease, pathogenesis and defence, basics of epidemiology, Principles of tree management. Morphology, biology, diagnosis and control of selected pathogens (parasitic phanerogams, fungi, bacteria, viruses and viroids). Morphology of mycorrhiza. Damages to woody plants caused by abiotic environmental factors.
Lecture notesLecture slides are avilable in electronic form.
LiteratureButin, H., 2011: Krankheiten der Wald- und Parkbäume. Diagnose - Biologie - Bekämpfung. 3. Aufl., G. Thieme-Verlag, Stuttgart (only the previous edition is available in English: Butin, H.: 1995: Tree Diseases and Disorders. Causes, Biology and Control in Forest and Amenity Trees. Oxford University Press, 252 S.)
Hartmann, G., Nienhaus, F., Butin, H., 1995: Farbatlas Waldschäden. Diagnose von Baumkrankheiten. 2. Aufl., G. Thieme-Verlag, Stuttgart.
Hartman, G., Nienhaus, F., Butin, H., (1991): Les symptômes de dépérissement des arbres forestiers : atlas de reconnaissance en couleurs des maladies, insectes et divers [Paris] : Institut pour le Développement Forestier; 256 S.
Hartmann, G., Nienhaus, F., Butin, H., (1990): Atlante delle malattie delle piante : guida illustrata dei danni alle specie arboree. Padova : Muzzio. 266 S.
Prerequisites / NoticePrerequisites: Basics in General and Systematic Biology, good knowledge of morphology and biology of the most common forest tree species in Switzerland.
The course includes practical work (microscopy).