DEPARTMENT OF PLANT PROTECTION


THE DEPARTMENT OF PLANT PROTECTION

 

  

 

Department of Plant Protection at Isfahan University of Technology (IUT) commenced training students in Plant Protection in 1982. The department offers B.Sc. program in plant protection which contains plant pathology and entomology courses and two M.Sc. programs in Plant Pathology and Agricultural Entomology. The department has facilities for both teaching and research including three educational labs for undergraduate program and four research labs equipped with instruments necessary for classical and molecular plant pathology and agricultural entomology. Academic staff and M.Sc. students are involved in a wide range of research projects including identification of Phytoplasma associated with fruit trees, genetic variation of pathogenic bacteria of potato, identification of plant pathogenic bacteria, identification of symbiotic endophytic fungi, taxonomy of fungi using molecular and classical methods, molecular detection of genes involved in aflatoxin and trichothecene biosynthesis, epidemiology of plant viruses, identification and genetic variation of plant viruses infecting sugar beet, cucurbits, legumes, stone fruits and pome fruits, integrated pest management, insects biological control, mass rearing of beneficial insects, insect nutrition, pests control, seasonality and ecology of insects, the study of beneficial and industrial insects such as honey bee and silk worm.

 

 

UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM

 

Undergraduate students must take 20 credits in general courses, 35 credits in basic courses, 35 credits in common core courses, 32 credits in major-specific courses and 18 credits in elective courses (total 140 credits) to obtain B.Sc. in Plant Protection.

 

 UNDERGRADUATE COURSES

 

DESCRIPTIONS OF UNDERGRADUATE COURSES 

 

General Entomology and Pest Control (36-28-221)           3Cr.   

General insect morphology, anatomy, physiology and classification of insects to order level and biology of representative pests in relation to pest control.

 

Plant Pathology (36-28-223)                                                   3Cr.              

This course concerns plant disease concepts, terminology and classes of causal infectious and noninfectious agents to understand how plants get infected, resist and defend themselves and how to control these diseases.

Prerequisite: Botany I (36-22-103) and Botany II (36-22-105)

 

Entomology (36-28-331)                                                        3Cr.               

Insect morphology and anatomy, introductory lectures in insect biology, physiology and behavior, principles and methods of classification of insects to family level with emphasis on their identification.

Prerequisite: Zoology (36-24-113) and General Entomology and Pest Control (36-28-221)

 

Mycology (36-28-337)                                                            3Cr.                  

This course focuses on fungal world, terminologies, morphology, biology, physiology, cytogenetics, ontogeny and classification of fungi.

Prerequisite: Botany I (36-22-103) and Botany II (36-22-105)

 

Field Crop Pests (36-28-343)                                              3Cr.     

Identification, biology and control of economic insects on field crops with emphasis on key pests.

Prerequisite: Entomology (36-28-331)

 

Field Crop Diseases (36-28-345)                                          3Cr.     

Discusses important cereal (wheat, barley, rice, corn, etc), industrial (cotton, sugar beet, sugar cane, etc), and legume crop diseases, their distribution, economical importance and how to control these diseases.

Prerequisite: Plant Pathology (36-28-223)

 

Fruit Tree Pests (36-28-451)                                              3Cr.      

Classification, morphology, biology, damage and management strategies of fruit tree pests with emphasis on deciduous tree fruits, citrus, nuts and small fruits.

Prerequisite: Entomology (36-28-331)

 

Fruit Tree diseases (36-28-453)                                        3Cr.                     

Studies the major diseases of pome fruits, stone fruits, grapes, berries, citrus plants, nuts, olives, tea and date-palm, their distribution, epidemiology, economical importance and methods of  controlling these diseases.

Prerequisite: Plant Pathology (36-28-223)

 

Vegetable and Ornamental Crop Pests and Diseases (36-28-460)       3 Cr.        

Economic importance, bioecology, epidemiology, classification and measures of prevention and control of the important pests and diseases of vegetables and ornamental plants.

Prerequisites: Entomology (36-28-331) and Plant Pathology (36-28-223)

 

Principles of Pest Control (36-28-340)                               2Cr.      

Applied ecology of pests, economic threshold, forecasting, use of resistant plants and other control tactics for pests.

Prerequisite: Entomology (36-28-331) and Ecology (36-22-411)

 

Principles of Plant Disease Control (36-28-342)             2Cr

Applied ecology of diseases, epidemiology, forecasting, use of resistant varieties and other plant disease control strategies.

Prerequisite: Plant Pathology (36-28-223)

 

Toxicology (36-28-447)                                                     3Cr.        

Chemical composition and reaction of insecticides on insect pests, fungicides and other pesticides, their use and safety application.

Prerequisite: Biochemistry (36-26-201), Experimental Design in Agriculture I (36-22-329)

 

Chemical Control Technology (36-28-455)                   1Cr.         

Sprayers, dusters, mist blowers, etc and their use in plant protection, the effect of droplet size, time of spraying, drifts, etc.

Prerequisite: Toxicology (36-28-447)

 

Plant Protection Seminar (36-28-449)                           1Cr.         

Students select scientific topics in the field of plant protection, do literature search, presentation and group discussion.

Prerequisite: Fourth Year Standing

 

Training in Plant Protection (36-22-490)                        2Cr.        

Students will be introduced to one of the agricultural organizations for training in the field of agriculture and plant protection.

Prerequisite: Third Year Standing.

 

Stored Product Pests (36-28-481)                                   2Cr.                     

General definition of stored products, economic importance of stored products in Iran, classification and biology of insects associated with stored products, control measures and fumigation practices in warehouses and silos.

Prerequisite: Entomology (36-28-331)

 

Acarology (36-28-485)                                                    2 Cr.         

Phylogeny, classification, morphology and biology of acari with emphasis on identification and control of economic important species.

Prerequisite: Zoology (36-24-113)

 

Nematology (36-28-467)                                                2Cr.                         

Morphology, anatomy, physiology and biology of nematodes, identification of plant parasitic nematodes, different control methods will be discussed.

Prerequisite: Zoology (36-24-113)

 

Pollinator Insects and Honey Bees (36-28-470)              2Cr.         

Classification, morphology and biology of insect pollinators with emphasis on bees and their efficient agricultural use, biology and behavior of honey bees, colony management for production and utilization in agriculture.

Prerequisite: Entomology (36-28-331)

 

Principles of Insect Classification (36-28-472)              2Cr.          

History and principles of insect classification, phylogeny of insects and other arthropods.

Prerequisite: Entomology (36-28-331)

 

Plant Physiological Disorders (36-28-483)                     1Cr.         

Discusses physiological disorders due to excess or deficiencies of macro and micro nutrients, heat and cold effects, chemical toxicities, excess and deficiencies of water, unfavorable pH and air pollution, their symptoms, importance and how to control them.

Prerequisite: Plant Pathology (36-28-223)

 

 

Plant Pathogenic Prokaryotes and Viruses (36-28-476)        3Cr.

Discusses viral and bacterial terminologies, general characteristics, transmission methods and symptoms of viral and bacterial diseases, their epidemiology, economical importance and how to control them.

Prerequisite: Plant Pathology (36-28-223)

 

 

Curriculum for the Degree of Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, Major: Plant Protection.

                                                                                                                                     

COURSE CODE

COURSE TITLE

CREDITS

Semester I (Fall)

 

 

36-22-103

 Botany I

3

20-10-118

 General Physics

2

20-10-119

 General Physics Lab.

1

21-10-103

 General Chemistry (major in Eng.)

3

36-22-101

 Biology

2

- 

 General Courses*

-

Semester II (Spring)

 

 

36-22-105

 Botany II

3

19-14-103

Calculus I

3

36-20-222

 Fundamentals of  Soil Science

3

21-12-229

 Organic Chemistry

3

36-24-113

 Zoology

3

- 

 General Courses

-

Semester III (Fall)

 

 

36-22-209

Genetics

3

36-26-201

Biochemistry

3

36-22-225

Meteorology and Climatology

3

36-22-122

Principles of Agronomy

3

36-22-107

Probability & Statistics

3

36-28-221

General Entomology and Pest Control

3

- 

General Courses

 -

Semester IV (Spring)

 

 

36-14-222

Horticultural Science

3

36-22-411

Ecology

3

36-22-329

Experimental Design in Agriculture I

3

36-28-223

Plant Pathology

3

- 

General Courses

-

Semester V (Fall)

 

 

36-28-337

Mycology

3

36-28-331

Entomology

3

36-28-340

Principles of Pest Control                   

2

 36-28-342                                                           

Principles of Plant Disease Control

2

36-30-226

Farm Machinery

3

- 

General Courses

-

Semester VI (Spring)

 

 

36-28-343

 Field Crop Pests

3

36-28-345

 Field Crop Diseases

3

36-18-221

 Agricultural Economics

3

36-22-327

 Field Work Training

3

- 

 General Courses

-

- 

 Elective  Courses**

-

Semester VII (Fall)

 

 

36-28-447

Toxicology

3

36-12-224

Principles and Methods of Irrigation

3

36-28-449

Plant Protection Seminar

1

36-22-478

Fundamentals of Sustainable Agriculture

2

- 

General Courses*

-

- 

Elective Courses

-

Semester VIII (Spring)

 

 

 36-28-451

Fruit Tree Pests

3

36-28-453

Fruit Tree Diseases

3

36-28-460

Vegetable and Ornamental Crop Pests and Diseases

3

36-22-449

Plant Protection Seminar

1

36-28-455

Chemical Control Technology

1

36-28-490

Training in Plant Protection

2

-

General Courses

-

- 

Elective Courses

-

*For more information please visit the following web sites: http://elc.iut.ac.ir/, http://maaref.iut.ac.ir/ and http://physical-ed.iut.ac.ir/

 

**List of Elective Courses

COURSE CODE

COURSE TITLE

CREDITS

36-28-476

Plant Pathogenic  Prokaryotes and Viruses

3

36-28-481

Stored Product Pests                                    

2

36-28-470

Pollinator Insects and Honey Bees

2

36-28-483

Plant Physiological Disorders

1

36-28-467

Nematology

2

36-28-471

Principles of Insect Classification

2

36-28-485                           

Acarology

2

36-22-343

Weeds and their control

3

36-16-467

Agricultural Biotechnology                          

3

 

GRADUATE PROGRAMS

 

M.Sc. Programs

 

1- Agricultural Entomology

 

To obtain M.Sc. degree in Agricultural Entomology, graduate students must take at least 31credits, 24 credits from the major-specific courses, 2 credits are the seminars and 6 credits are the thesis.

 

DESCRIPTIONS OF GRADUATE COURSES

 

Insect Morphology (36-28-501)                    3Cr.   

Evolution of the arthropod structures, metamorphosis, cephalization and tagmosis, structure of insect egg and embryonic development, integument and muscles, head and its appendages with emphasis on mouth parts, structure of thorax, abdomen and their appendages, structure of alimentary canal, respiratory system, circulatory system, fat body, nervous system, reproductive system and sense organs.

 

Insect Physiology (36-28-603)                       3Cr.   

Insects nutrition, digestion and absorption, hemolymph, blood circulation and functions, molting and cuticule formation, functions of cuticule, insect respiration, excretion and reproduction, physiology of nervous system and sense organs and functions of hormones.

Prerequisite: Insect Morphology (36-28-501)

 

Insect Ecology (36-28-503)                           3Cr.    

Trophic relationships, populations and population dynamics of predators and parasites, ecological genetics, coexistence and competition, communities and distribution, etc.

 

Biological Control of Insects (36-28-607)                2Cr.               

Philosophy and fundamental principles of biological control, classical and applied biological control, Lectures on biology, behavior and other characteristics of predators, parasites, parasitoids and pathogens.

Prerequisite: Insect Ecology (36-28-503)

 

Pest Management (36-28-605)                      2Cr.   

Advanced lectures on principles of integrated pest management such as ecological basis of IPM, economic threshold, crop loss assessment, monitoring and modern insect control tactics.

Prerequisite: Ecology (36-22-411)

 

Advanced Acarology (36-28-505)                3Cr.   

Classification of Chelicerata and their phylogenic relationships, relation of acari to other animals and plants, identification of acari to family and genus level.

 

Seminar I (9010502-36)                                  1Cr.               

Literature search on a topic related to their research program by students, presentation of seminar and group discussions.

 

Seminar II (9010504-36)                                  Cr.

Literature search on a topic by students, presentation of seminar and group discussions.

                         

Insect Systematic (36-28-601)                     3Cr.     

Theory and philosophy of insect taxonomy, phylogeny of insect orders, kinds of insect identification keys and their construction, principles and methods of classification of insect orders up to family and subfamily levels, identification of insect samples up to species level.

Prerequisite: Insect Morphology (36-28-501)

 

Advanced Toxicology (36-28-609)               3Cr.    

Principles and methods of bioassay, mechanism of effect and metabolism of pesticides, resistance mechanism of insects to pesticides, synergism and antagonism by pesticides, pesticide residues in food and environment, formulation technology of pesticides, pesticide regulation and laws, different methods for determination of LD50, LC50, LT50 and residue determination.

Prerequisite: Insect Physiology (36-28-603)

 

2- Plant Pathology

 

The program consists of at least 31 credits, 25 credits of which are course work and 6 credits thesis.

 

DESCRIPTIONS OF GRADUATE COURSES

 

Advanced Mycology (36-28-502)                 3Cr.

Principles and methods of fungal classification and nomenclature, morphology, biology, ontogeny and genetics of fungal taxons, descriptions of agriculturally important fungal orders and families, molecular systematics of fungi.

 

Plant Virology (36-28-504)                          3Cr.

History, taxonomy, nomenclature, structure, purification, identification, assay, physicochemical properties, disease induction, transmission, movement, replication, proteins expression, diversity and evolution of plant viruses. immunology, antiserum production and serological methods.

 

Advanced Nematology (36-28-604)           3Cr.

Classification, anatomy and morphology of nematodes, identification of nematodes up to genus level, use of molecular methods in nematodes identification, biological studies of some important nematodes.

 

Plant Pathogenic Bacteria (36-28-510)      3Cr.

History, evolution and  life, prokaryotic cells, bacterial nutrition and growth requirements, bacterial genetics(chromosome, plasmid and gene), bacterial transformation, conjugation and transduction, bacterial mutation and repairs, microbial control, plant microbe interaction, plant bacterial pathogenesis, taxonomy of plant pathogenic bacteria, plant diseases caused by Agrobacterium, Pectobacterium, Pseudomonas, Xanthomonas, gram positive bacteria, fastidious and Mollicutes.

 

Plant Disease Management (36-28-508)    3Cr.

Introduction, plant disease development, progress and spread, type, sources, dissemination and landing of inoculums, environmental effects on disease development, crop destruction and losses. plant disease epidemiology, control methods, exclusion, quarantine, avoidance, altering cultural practices, modifying the environment, genetic of plant disease (immunity, specific and general resistance, tolerance …), eradication by physical methods, eradication by chemicals (fungicide development and use …), sanitation, biological control, economy of plant diseases, plant disease forecasting, integrated plant disease control.

Vectors of Plant Pathogens (36-28-536)        2Cr.

Introduction, vector-plant-pathogen interactions, insect vectors and their role in plant pathogens transmission, mechanism of plant pathogens transmission by insects, ecology, mouth parts, alimentary tract and salivary system of insect vectors with emphasis on aphids and hoppers.  Fungi, nematodes and parasitic higher plants and their roles in transmission of plant pathogens.

 

Physiology of Parasitism in Plant Diseases (36-28-522)           3Cr.

Pathogen- host terminology, host and disease development, host recognition and signaling, cell wall lytic enzymes production, toxin production and pathogenicity, morphological, physiological and biochemical host modification during infection, host resistance mechanism and specification.

 

Physiology of Fungi (36-28-526)                3Cr.

Fungal culture, mechanisms of fungal growth in culture systems, differentiation, dimorphism, effects of temperature, light, oxygen, CO2  and water on fungal growth, spore  germination, fungal respiration and pathways, nutrition and metabolism of carbon and nitrogen, effects of vitamins and physiology of reproduction.

 

Seminar (9010502-36)                                   1Cr.

Oral presentation will be made by students on current topics in plant patholog