SUBJECT: MICROBIAL ECOLOGY AND PLANT PATHOLOGY
|
S.no |
Topic |
Domain |
Hours |
|
1 |
Microorganisms habitat and their role in biogeochemical cycles and succession pattern
Terrestrial Environment: Soil microflora. Aquatic Environment: Stratification & Microflora of Freshwater & Marine habitats . |
Must know |
10 |
| Carbon cycle: Nitrogen cycle Ammonification, nitrification, denitrification & nitrate reduction. Phosphorous cycle: Phosphate immobilization and phosphate solubilization. Sulphur Cycle Microbes involved in sulphur cycle. |
Desirable to know |
8 |
|
| Succession of microbial communities in the decomposition of plant organic matter |
Nice to know |
2 |
|
|
2 |
Microbe–Microbe Interactions Mutualism, Synergism, Commensalism, Competition, Amensalism, Parasitism, Predation, Biocontrol agents |
Must know |
10 |
| Microbe–Plant Interactions: Roots, Aerial Plant surfaces, Biological Nitrogen fixation (symbiotic/nonsymbiotic- biofertilizers) |
Desirable to know |
5 |
|
| Microbe–Animal Interactions : Role of Microbes in Ruminants, Nematophagus fungi, Luminescent bacteria as symbiont |
Nice to know |
5 |
|
|
3 |
Microbial Pathogenicity : Virulence factors of pathogens: enzymes, toxins (host specific and non specific) growth regulators, virulence factors in viruses (replicase, coat protein, silencing suppressors) in disease development. |
Must know |
8 |
| Effects of pathogens on host physiological processes (photosynthesis, respiration, cell membrane permeability, translocation of water and nutrients, plant growth and reproduction). |
Desirable to know |
7 |
|
| Genetics of Plant Diseases : Concept of resistance (R) gene and avirulence (avr) gene; Gene for gene hypothesis, types of plant resistance: true resistance– horizontal & vertical, apparent resistance. |
Nice to know |
5 |
|
|
4 |
Concept of plant disease- microbial plant diseases, types of plant pathogens, pathogenicity, symptoms, economic losses. Principles & practices involved in the management of plant diseases by different methods |
Must know |
10 |
| Important diseases caused by fungi White rust of crucifers – Albugo candida Downy mildew of onion – Peronospora destructor Late blight of potato – Phytophthora infestans Powdery mildew of wheat – Erysiphe graminis Ergot of rye – Claviceps purpurea Black stem rust of wheat – Puccinia graminis tritici Loose smut of wheat – Ustilago nuda Wilt of tomato – Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici Red rot of sugarcane – Colletotrichum falcatum Early blight of potato – Alternaria solani Important diseases caused by phytopathogenic bacteria Angular leaf spot of cotton, bacterial leaf blight of rice, crown galls, bacterial |
Desirable to know |
7 |
|
| Cankers of citrus Important diseases caused by phytoplasmas Aster yellow, citrus stubborn Important diseases caused by viruses Papaya ring spot, tomato yellow leaf curl, banana bunchy top, rice tungro Important diseases caused by viroids Potato spindle tuber, coconut cadang cadang |
Nice to know |
3 |
|
|
5 |
PRACTICAL
To study the effect of pH on the growth of E. coli Demonstration of alcoholic fermentation. Effect of different nitrogen sources on growth of E. coli. Effect of different carbon sources on growth of E. coli. Isolation of microbes (bacteria & fungi) from soil (28.C & 45.C ) Isolation of Azotobacter/Azospirillum from soil |
Must know |
30 |
| Analysis of soil – pH, moisture content, water holding capacity, percolation, capillary action
Isolation of microbes (bacteria & fungi) from rhizosphere and rhizoplane. Detection (qualitative) of the presence of enzymes (dehydrogenase, amylase, urease) in soil. Isolation of Rhizobium from root nodules of legumes |
Desirable to know |
15 |
|
| Isolation of phosphate solubilizers from soil
Demonstration of Koch’s postulates in fungal, bacterial and viral plant pathogens. Study of important diseases of crop plants by cutting sections of infected plant material –Albugo, Puccinia, Ustilago, Fusarium, Colletotrichum. |
Nice to know |
15 |
Suggested readings:
- Atlas RM and Bartha R. (2000). Microbial Ecology: Fundamentals & Applications. 4th edition. Benjamin/Cummings Science Publishing, USA.
- Atlas RM. (1989). Microbiology: Fundamentals and Applications. 2nd Edition, MacMillan Publishing Company, New York.
- Madigan MT, Martinko JM and Parker J. (2009). Brock Biology of Microorganisms. 12th edition. Pearson/ Benjamin Cummings
- Agrios GN. (2006). Plant Pathology. 5th edition. Academic press, San Diego,
- Lucas JA. (1998). Plant Pathology and Plant Pathogens. 3rd edition. Blackwell
- Science, Oxford.
- Mehrotra RS. (1994). Plant Pathology. Tata McGraw-Hill Limited