Information Package / Course Catalogue
General Plant Diseases
Course Code: LBT137
Course Type: Area Elective
Couse Group: Short Cycle (Associate's Degree)
Education Language: Turkish
Work Placement: N/A
Theory: 1
Prt.: 2
Credit: 2
Lab: 0
ECTS: 2
Objectives of the Course

The objective of this course is to introduce students to biotic (viruses, bacteria, fungi) and abiotic agents causing plant diseases and to teach the general principles of plant pathology. Additionally, it aims to enable students to recognize plant disease symptoms, comprehend the basic principles of general management methods, and gain skills in preparing laboratory examination samples and microscopic specimens for diagnosing pathogens causing economic losses in vegetables, fruits, vineyards, and cereal crops.

Course Content

Basic concepts, definitions, and economic importance of plant pathology; general laboratory characteristics of abiotic and biotic disease agents; disease cycle and attack mechanisms of pathogens. Plant disease symptoms (symptomatology) and general plant disease management methods (quarantine, cultural, physical, biological, and chemical control). In the second half of the course; important fungal, bacterial, and viral diseases affecting vegetables, fruits, vineyards, and cereals, along with their laboratory testing, microscopic specimen preparation, and diagnostic processes.

Name of Lecturer(s)
Learning Outcomes
1.Classify general concepts, biotic, and abiotic causes of plant diseases according to technical laboratory criteria.
2.Distinguish plant disease symptoms macroscopically in a laboratory environment and explain the basic principles of general management methods.
3.Diagnose fungal, bacterial, and viral disease symptoms causing economic damage in vegetables, fruits, vineyards, and cereals macroscopically and microscopically.
4.Properly prepare laboratory examination materials and microscopic specimens from infected crop plants for diagnostic purposes.
5.Conduct analysis processes with team awareness in plant protection and pathology laboratories by complying with occupational health, safety, and hygiene rules.
Recommended or Required Reading
1.Agrios,G.N., 2005. Plant pathology, 5 th edition, Elsevier Academic Press,U.S. Pp: 948.
2.Yıldız,M.,F.Yıldız,1994. Phytopathology lecture notes.196 pp,İzmir.
3.Karaca, İ., 1977. Plant Bacteriology and Bacterial Diseases, Ege University Press1977, İzmir, 270p.
4.General Plant Virology (Lecture Notes) Süleyman Demirel University Publication No: 13 Faculty of Agriculture, Isparta, 2001
Weekly Detailed Course Contents
Week 1 - Theoretical & Practice
General content and introduction of the course, concept of disease in plants and definitions / Laboratory rules and introduction to the preparation of materials related to plant diseases
Week 2 - Theoretical & Practice
History of plant diseases, economic importance, and general ways of identifying diseases / General identification of diseased plant samples and preparation of examination materials
Week 3 - Theoretical & Practice
Abiotic (non-living) causes of disease in plants (nutrient, climate, and soil factors) / Laboratory examination of abiotically damaged plant samples and preparation of examination materials
Week 4 - Theoretical & Practice
Biotic (living) causes of disease in plants: General characteristics, transmission, and dissemination pathways of plant pathogenic viruses / Examination of virally infected plant samples and preparation of laboratory materials
Week 5 - Theoretical & Practice
Plant pathogenic prokaryotes (Bacteria and phytoplasmas) and their general characteristics / Bacterial ooze test and laboratory preparation of bacterial disease materials
Week 6 - Theoretical & Practice
Plant pathogenic fungi: Morphology, reproductive structures, and general characteristics / Examination of fungi and spore types under the microscope, specimen preparation
Week 7 - Theoretical & Practice
Disease occurrence, disease stages, chemical weapons of pathogens, and plant disease symptoms (Symptomatology) / Laboratory examination and material preparation of plant samples showing symptoms such as rots, spots, wilts, tumors, etc.
Week 8 - Theoretical & Practice
Theoretical Topic: General management methods against plant diseases (Principles of regulatory, cultural, physical, biological, and chemical control) / General demonstration of laboratory/field materials related to management methods and exam evaluation
Week 9 - Theoretical & Practice
Diseases caused by fungi in vegetables (Root rots, Botrytis blight, Sclerotium diseases, Early blight) / Examination of vegetable disease samples and preparation of examination material
Week 10 - Theoretical & Practice
Other diseases caused by fungi in vegetables (Downy mildews, powdery mildews, rusts) and specific vegetable diseases / Macroscopic/microscopic laboratory examination of vegetable disease samples and material preparation
Week 11 - Theoretical & Practice
Fungal root rot diseases observed in fruit trees and vineyards, powdery mildews, and fungal diseases in vineyards / Examination of fruit and vineyard disease samples and preparation of laboratory materials
Week 12 - Theoretical & Practice
Other fungal diseases in vineyards, cankers in fruit trees, and specific fruit fungal diseases / Examination of vineyard and fruit tree canker disease samples and specimen preparation
Week 13 - Theoretical & Practice
Important fungal diseases observed in cereals (field crops) (Rusts, smuts, bunts, and root rots) / Laboratory examination of cereal disease samples, spore structures, and material preparation
Week 14 - Theoretical & Practice
Important bacterial and viral diseases observed in vegetables, fruits, vineyards, and cereals / Laboratory examination of bacterial and viral disease symptoms in crop plants, preparation of diagnostic materials, and end-of-term laboratory evaluation
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Type of AssessmentCountPercent
Assignment1%5
Quiz1%5
Midterm Examination1%30
Final Examination1%60
Workload Calculation
ActivitiesCountPreparationTimeTotal Work Load (hours)
Lecture - Theory140114
Lecture - Practice140228
Assignment1101
Quiz1112
Midterm Examination1314
Final Examination1415
TOTAL WORKLOAD (hours)54
Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes
PÇ-1
PÇ-2
PÇ-3
PÇ-4
PÇ-5
PÇ-6
PÇ-7
PÇ-8
PÇ-9
PÇ-10
PÇ-11
PÇ-12
PÇ-13
PÇ-14
OÇ-1
5
5
OÇ-2
5
5
OÇ-3
5
5
OÇ-4
5
5
4
3
OÇ-5
5
5
4
Adnan Menderes University - Information Package / Course Catalogue
2026