NEM 5707 PLANT NEMATOLOGY

PROFESSOR:DR. D. W. DICKSON
 Telephone: (352) 392-1901 ext.135; E-mail:dwd@ifas.ufl.edu

COURSE SYLLABUS

Red-ring disease on coconut tree

Objective: To provide an overview of plant nematology. Students will learn basic nematode morphology and anatomy, with emphasis on structures as they relate to identification, life cycle, disease cycle, and management of plant-parasitic nematodes. Upon completion of the course students should be familiar with sampling, recovery, and identification of plant-parasitic nematodes from field situations. Emphasis will be placed on practical use of information presented.

 Subjects to be covered include: Morphology and anatomy, Growth and development, Ecology and population dynamics, Identification and classification, Plant-parasitic nematodes and the diseases they induce, Interactions with other organisms, Management schemes: cultural, physical, biological, and chemical.

Laboratory: Topics will include practice in extraction of nematodes from soil and roots, observing plant symptoms, nematode interaction with other soilborne organisms, differential plants, morphology and identification of plant-parasitic nematodes, and management techniques.

Examinations and report: Four 10 minute quizzes, a mid-term and a final examination will be given for lecture and laboratory material. One written report is to be prepared: (due on or before Nov. 10th).

Final grade: Lecture quizzes = 20%, Mid-term = 35%; Final examination = 35%; Written report = 10%.

Grading scale:

 A - 92-100 C - 72-77
B+ - 88-91 D+ - 68-71
B - 82-87 D - 62-67
C+ - 78-81 F - 61 or less 


Lecture Schedule

Citrus nematode female

Prerequisites: None required

 General Description : The course provides an overview of plant-parasitic nematodes. Students will learn basic nematode morphology, with emphasis on structures as they relate to identification, growth and development, ecology, life cycle, diseases they cause, disease cycles, interactions with other organisms, and management tactics to control population densities. Upon completion of the course students will be familiar with sampling, extraction, and identification of the most common plant-parasitic nematodes.

 Grading: The course grade will be derived from four 10 minute quizzes, mid-term and final examinations, an oral report, and a written report.

 Course Outline:

 1- Introduction and historical
2- Morphology and anatomy

  1. Gross morphology, nervous and excretory systems
  2.  

  3. Digestive and reproductive systems
3- Growth and development

 4- Ecology

 

  1. Population dynamics
  2. Nematode habitats and dispersal patterns
5- Identification and classification

 6- Plant-parasitic nematodes and the diseases they induce

  1. Nematodes as parasites and pathogens
  2. Mechanisms of pathogenesis
  3. Observing and characterizing symptoms and signs of nematode diseases
  4. Pathology and life cycle of tylenchida--Sedentary endoparasites: Meloidogyne, Globodera, Heterodera, Nacobbus, Tylenchulus, and Rotylenchulus
  5. Migratory endoparasite:Pratylenchus, Radopholus, Hirschmanniella, Anguina, and Ditylenchus
  6. Ectoparasites:Belonolaimus, Dolichodorus, Tylenchorhynchus, Hoplolaimus, Helicotylenchus, Rotylenchus, Scutellonema, and Criconemella
  7.  

  8. Pathology and life cycle of aphelenchida: Aphelenchoides, Rhadinaphelenchus, and Bursaphelenchus
  9.  

  10. Pathology and disease cycles of dorylaimida: Xiphinema, Trichodorus, Paratrichodorus, and Longidorus
  11.  

7- Interaction with other organism
  1. Diseases and pest complexes
  2. Virus transmission
  3.  

8- Management

 

  1. Strategies, tactics, and integrated pest management
  2. Biological
  3. Chemical
  4. Mechanisms of resistance