526-041 Microbiology 2 (Agr. Course)

Credit Points

Coordinator

Prerequisites

526-031 Agricultural Microbiology 1

Semester

Contact

Subject Description

By the end of this subject students should be able to:

• describe the ways in which different microorganisms satisfy their basic requirements for growth and in so doing catalyse the biogeochemical cycles for carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and sulphur;

• experimentally isolate and characterise microorganisms and viruses that can have significant impacts on agricultural practices;

• understand those symbiotic relationships between microorganisms, plants and animals that are of particular relevance to agriculture;

• appreciate the factors involved in the pathogenicity of microorganisms for both animals and plants;

• describe the systems of plants and animals that can be used to protect themselves from microbial induced diseases, e.g. the induction of immune systems by means of vaccines;

• explain the details of the mechanisms for at least 2 such microbial systems where the expression of genes is regulated by changes in the environment;

• have a general knowledge of the ways by which the productivity of plants and animals involved in agricultural practices may be increased by genetic modifications and by the biological control of potential pathogens;

• understand the reasons for and principles of the current Australian Government quarantine regulations.

Assessment

A 3-hour written examination and a 2-hour practical examination at the completion of the course; laboratory performance.