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Course
Goals:
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Plant
Pathology 150 deals with the ecological activities of fungi in native
and managed ecosystems. A principal emphasis is on the role of fungi as
agents of decomposition and the adaptations that allow them to carry out
this activity in diverse environments, and in competition with other microorganisms.
Using the saprobic life history as a starting point, various hypothetical
pathways to pathogenesis and mutualism will be considered. These concepts
will be illustrated using examples of fungal interactions with plants
(such as obligate and facultative parasites, lichens and mycorrhizae)
and animals (such as fungi associated with leaf cutter ants and ambrosia
beetles). Winter quarter, 3 units TuTH, 2:00-3:30 in room 103 Hutchison Hall Instructor: Tom Gordon (trgordon@ucdavis.edu) |
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Entry
Level:
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The only requirement is an introductory course in the biological sciences. |
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Course
Format: |
The
class meets twice weekly for 80 minutes per session, most of which will
be in lecture format. There will also be a class project that involves
sampling, identifying and enumerating fungi on natural substrates. Students
will write a term paper based on this project.
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Topical/Subject
Outline: |
Fundamentals of fungal physiology and growth Environmental limitations on fungal growth Concepts of r and k selection in fungi Competition among fungi and between fungi and bacteria Fungal population biology The evolution of leaf pathogens Fungi colonizing wood Pathogenic and saprobic fungi in the rhizosphere Commensal and endophytic fungi associated with plants Fungal mutualisms |
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| Text | Modern Mycology by J. Deacon | ||