Studierende bearbeiten in Projektteams Fragestellungen von Praxispartner:innen aus dem Agro-Food Bereich. Sie entwickeln wissenschaftlich fundierte, praxistaugliche Lösungsvorschläge und wenden dabei ihre im Studium sowie im Rahmen der Lehrveranstaltung erworbenen fachspezifischen, methodenspezifischen, sozialen und persönlichen Kompetenzen an.

Fundamentals of morphology, systematic and ecology of algae, fungi and lichens

The colloquium “Challenges in Plant Sciences” is a core class of the Zurich-Basel Plant Science Center's PhD program. The colloquium introduces participants to the broad spectrum of plant sciences within the network. The course offers the opportunity to approach interdisciplinary topics in the field of plant sciences.

Introduction into plant pathology and plant protection. First insight into the following topics: significance of plant diseases, challenges in plant protection, nature of pathogens, interaction plant-pathogen-environment, quarantine organisms and imported diseases

Fundamentals (theoretical and practical) in phytopathology, eg. interaction between plants and plant-pathogenic microorganisms, morphology and lifecycles of plant-pathogenic fungi, evolution of plant-pathogenic fungi, biological control of plant diseases

Plant Pathology I will focus on pathogen-plant interactions, epidemiology, disease assessment, and disease development in agroecosystems. Themes will include: 1) how pathogens attack plants and; 2) how plants defend themselves against pathogens; 3) factors driving the development of epidemics in agroecosystems.

Identification based on host, symptoms and micro-morphology, completed with life cycles and related control measures of the most important fungal diseases and their causal pathogens of annual and perennial crops with agricultural significance.

Plant Pathology II focuses on disease control in agricultural ecosystems based on biological control methods, the use of pesticides, and the breeding of resistant plant varieties.

The course consists of a mixture of information elements (frontal teaching), learning units with examples (student participation), self-study, group work and plenary discussions. Where possible, it includes epidemiology, the most important basics of which are repeated at the beginning.

Fundamentals of morphology, systematics and ecology of algae, fungi and lichens