The goal of the course is to provide postgraduate students with advanced knowledge on the broad area of Plant-Microbe Interactions. In particular, the course contains 13 thematic units (TH.U) dealing with (i) the molecular interactions between plants and pathogens (TH.U 1-4) (ii) the molecular physiology of non-parasitic diseases (TH.U 5) (iii) the molecular diagnosis of phytopathogenic microorganisms both in the laboratory but also in the field (TH.U 6) (iv) the composition, function and biotechnological applications of plant-colonizing beneficial microbes ( TH.U 7-9) (v) the management of crop diseases based on the principles of the so-called integrated plant protection (IPP) (TH.U 10). In addition, this course provides knowledge and information on more general topics related to the plant quarantine, the impact of mycotoxins produced by plant-pathogenic fungi in food safety and the effects of the climate change on plant diseases (TH.U 11-13).

Special Topics in Plant Pathology_Course Outline

PAGR05_Insect-Plant Interactions_Course Outline & Annex

Crop Physiology

Type: Graduate course / Elective course

Division: Plant Science and Environment

Coordinator: Christos Damalas

Semester: 2^nd

ECTS: 7.5

Instructors: Christos Damalas / Spyridon Koutroubas

E-mail: cdamalas@agro.duth.gr; skoutrou@agro.duth.gr

Telephone: 25520 41116 / 25520 41125

 

Cooperation with students: after contact (via email)

Course description:

Physiological processes that determinate yield performance of crops. Canopy architecture, leaf area index, and light efficiency use. Crop physiology, yield components, and yield determinants. Weed-crop competition. Chemical and alternative methods of weed control. Dry matter production and accumulation of nutrients. Translocation of assimilates.

Production and consumption centers of assimilates (sink-source relationships). Water use efficiency and resistance mechanisms of plants to water stress.

Suggested textbooks:

(The following titles are offered by the library of our Department)

• Weiss E.A. (2000): Oilseed Crops, 2nd edn. Blackwell Science, London,
• Bavec F. and M. Bavec. (2006): Organic Production and Use of Alternative Crops, CRC Press, London,
• Gunstone F.D. (2004): Rapeseed and canola oil: Production, Processing, Properties and Uses, CRC Press, London,

Learning outcomes

Upon successful completion of the course students will be able to:

• Recommend appropriate management approaches for increasing productivity and improving economic efficiency of crops

Evaluation methods:

• Written / oral exams at the end of the semester

 

Tentative schedule of classes for the course ‘Crop Physiology’

Week	Class topic	Instructor
1st	Introduction. Physiological processes that determinate yield performance of field crops	S. Koutroubas C. Damalas
2nd	Effect of canopy architecture on yield of field crops	S. Koutroubas
3rd	Crop physiology, yield components, and yield formation	C. Damalas
4th	Redistribution of assimilates and nutrients. Relationships between centers of production and consumption of assimilates (source-sink theory)	S. Koutroubas
5th	Grain yield formation in field crops: case studies	S. Koutroubas
6th	Simulation models of grain filling in major field crops	S. Koutroubas
7th	Effect of climate change on growth, development and yield of crops	C. Damalas
8th	Mechanisms of adaptation of crops to abiotic stress conditions	C. Damalas
9th	The role of plant nutrition in crop yield formation. Inorganic and organic fertilization	S. Koutroubas
10th	Physiology of nitrogen fixation by legumes plants. Methods of quantitative evaluation	S. Koutroubas
11th	Sustainable cropping systems in major fields crops	C. Damalas
12th	Influence of long term monocropping on crop yield and agroecosystems’ traits	C. Damalas
13th	Influence of weed competition on crop yield. Methods of quantitative evaluation	C. Damalas
14th	Written exams