| CODE | AGR3501 | |||||||||
| TITLE | Strategies and Methods of Plant Protection | |||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 03 - Years 2, 3, 4 in Modular Undergraduate Course | |||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 6 | |||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 6 | |||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Rural Sciences and Food Systems | |||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit is divided into three modules: Plant Health and Pathology, Applied Entomology and Weed Science. Plant Health & Pathology. This is a module on the nature and importance of biotic and abiotic stresses on plant productivity and quality. A case history approach will be used to illustrate the biology of important plant diseases. The nature of disease in plants and a study of the basic principles of control. Applied Entomology. This module provides an overview of the main groups of insects injurious to agricultural crops, their classification, morphology, life histories, economic damage and control. The module mainly focuses on the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) principles and their application and gives examples for the Maltese agro-ecosystems. Weed Science. This module provides an overview of weed management in agricultural systems. It focuses on an integrated approach to weed management using a combination of preventive, cultural, mechanical, biological and chemical methods of weed control. It emphasizes weed identification and knowledge of weed life cycles to allow informed decisions to be made about weed problems. Study-unit Aims The main aim of this study-unit is to provide the student with a good understanding of the nature and importance of plant diseases, weeds, insects and abiotic stresses on plant productivity and quality. Students will relate the biology of plant pests and diseases to the crop cycle and develop an understanding of how these may be controlled. Learning Outcomes 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: 1) describe the diagnosis of pathogenic bacteria, fungi, viruses and arthropods; 2) describe scouting methods for insect pests and weeds; 3) relate the interactions of pathogens, arthropods and weeds with crop plants; 4) outline the life cycles of major plant pathogens, insects and weeds; 5) relate environmental factors, proper control and resistant varieties in integrated production; 6) correlate the impact of pesticide treatments on ecosystems. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: 1) use acquired knowledge recognize the most important plant pathogens, arthropod pests and weeds; 2) use appropriate techniques for sampling diseased plants, insects and weeds; 3) diagnose plant disease and insect damage in field and laboratory; 4) select the right method for integrated control of pathogens, insects and weeds; 5) recommend measures for the prevention of accidental introduction of plant diseases, insects and weeds. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings Plant Health and Pathology: - Agrios G.N. (1997). Plant Pathology (4th edition). Academic Press, New York. (Main Library). - Brooks, Fred E. Plant disease manual for semiarid and Mediterranean-type climates. Malta University Press, 2001. 223 p. 99909-45-24-1. (Main Library). Applied Entomology: - Gullan, PJ, Cranston, PS. 2000. The Insects. An Outline of Entomology. 2nd Edition. Blackwell Science, Oxford. (Main Library). - Dent, D. 2000. Insect Pest management. 2nd Edition. CABI Publishing, UK. Weed Science: - Hance R.J., Holly K., 1990. Weed control handbook: principles. Blackwell Scientific Publications (for British Crop Protection Council), 582 pp. - Upadhyaya M.K., Blackshaw, R.E., 2007. Non-chemical weed management. Principles, Concepts and Technology. CAB International, 239 pp. |
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| ADDITIONAL NOTES | Pre-requisite Study-units: RFS2500, AGR2550 or related study-units Students, who are interested to take this study-unit as optional, are kindly requested to contact the Department of Rural Sciences before registering for this unit. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture and Tutorial | |||||||||
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| LECTURER/S | David Mifsud |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2025/6. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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