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Year:

AGRO311 Plant Protection

Updated: 30 October 2012
Credit Points 6
Offering
Responsible Campus Teaching Period Mode of Study
Armidale OUA Session 1 Off Campus
Armidale Trimester 1 Off Campus
Armidale Trimester 1 On Campus
Intensive School(s)
Start Finish Attendance Notes
17 April 2013 20 April 2013 Mandatory
Supervised Exam There is a UNE Supervised Examination held at the end of the teaching period in which you are enrolled.
Pre-requisites AGRO211 or AGRO223 or candidature in a postgraduate award in the School of Environmental and Rural Science or School of Science and Technology
Co-requisites None
Restrictions None
Notes

offered on campus each year and off campus in odd numbered years

Combined Units None
Coordinator(s) Brian Sindel (bsindel@une.edu.au)
Unit Description

This unit deals with the basic biology, ecology and management of pest organisms (insects, diseases and weeds) which attack plants in agricultural and environmental ecosystems. The principles of ecological, physical, biological and chemical control techniques are discussed, and the concepts of integrated pest management are applied. Topics include: the main groups of plant pests and their economic impacts, economic thresholds, identification, biology and ecology; mode of action, application and detoxification of pesticides; management of pesticide resistance; biological control using natural enemies; pest management through environmental modification; use of resistant varieties including transgenic plants; quarantine; and integrated pest management systems.

Prescribed Material
Mandatory
Text(s):

Note: Students are expected to purchase prescribed material. Please note that textbook requirements may vary from one teaching period to the next.

Crop Insects - Northern Grain Belt: The Ute Guide
ISBN: 9780734501264
Department of Primary Industries, Department of Primary Industries 2000
Text refers to: Trimester 1 , On and Off Campus
Disclaimer Unit information may be subject to change prior to commencement of the teaching period.
Assessment
Title Exam Length Weight Mode No. Words
Essay 20% 2500
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1-6 GA: 1, 2, 4, 6
Practical Assessment 25%
Assessment Notes
Practical examination/report
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1, 2, 3 GA: 1, 2, 6
Report 10% 500
Assessment Notes
Disease report
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1, 2, 3 GA: 1, 2, 4, 6
Final Theory Examination 2 hrs 45%
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1-5 GA: 1, 2, 4, 6

Learning Outcomes (LO) Upon completion of this unit, students will be able to:
  1. describe the impact of plant pests on agricultural industries; recognise a range of agriculturally important insects, diseases and weeds;
  2. discuss the ecological basis for pest problems and their management;
  3. outline the principles and practices of different techniques for managing pest organisms;
  4. describe the molecular basis for several important plant protection processes;
  5. describe the generation and value of genetically engineered plants; and
  6. synthesise this information into an understanding of integrated pest management systems and evaluate the status of integrated pest management in current Australian plant protection systems

Graduate Attributes (GA)
Attribute Taught Assessed Practised
1 Knowledge of a Discipline
Students are taught and apply the latest knowledge on plant protection.
True True True
2 Communication Skills
Students complete an essay and report in which they develop written communication skills.
True True True
3 Global Perspectives
Examples of plant protection issues from many countries are used to illustrate the principles taught in this unit.
True
4 Information Literacy
Students explore the literature from a wide range of sources and synthesize this in assessment tasks.
True True True
5 Life-Long Learning
Students are asked to assess their current knowledge and that needed for future employment in the field of plant protection.
True True
6 Problem Solving
Students are taught to deal with conflicting information to resolve issues in plant protection.
True True True
7 Social Responsibility
The social implications of plant protection practices are examined in the unit.
True
8 Team Work
Students work in teams to solve practical plant protection problems.
True True
   

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