Postgraduate Studies
Programmes??
HonsBSc (Plant Pathology)
Requirements for admission
A BSc degree with
Microbiology or Genetics or Botany or Biotechnology as a major. An average final
mark of 60% is required in the applicable modules. Supplementary study may be
required.
Composition and content
The one-year honours
programme in Plant Pathology leads to the qualification BScHons in Plant
Pathology. The programme consists of further specialised study in Plant
Pathology. Supplementary studies may sometimes be required. The modules and
study tasks add greater depth of learning, building further on a bachelor's
programme with Microbiology or Genetics or Botany or Biotechnology as major
subject. The programme s research- and career-oriented and is based on
modern technology and the most recently available research in Plant
Pathology. It links up with research projects carried out in the
Department. The programme consists of the following five modules:
Modules
Plant Pathology 771 Advanced plant disease
dynamics
Components of plant diseases, such as the plant pathogens
that cause them, the host factors that influence their development and the
environmental conditions that favour them. Diseases of national and
international importance and the damage they cause to food production in the
world. The dynamics of pathogens associated with seed and nursery plants, as
well as those causing soil-borne, foliar and fruit diseases before harvest,
and decay and damage after harvest.
Plant Pathology 772 Advanced disease
management
The importance of epidemiology in control and management
of plant diseases through the integration of cultivation practices, physical,
biological and chemical strategies (seed technology, minimum manipulation,
plant quarantine, sanitation practices and resistance). The mode of action of
fungicides and the management of fungicide resistance in fungal populations.
Biological control. Development and production of biocontrol systems for
soil-borne, plant and fruit pathogens.
Plant Pathology 773 Research
methodology
Relevant and current experimental approaches and methods
of analysis used in plant pathology. Experimental design and statistical
analysis, molecular methods, phylogenetic analysis, paper
reviews.
Subject to continuous assessment.
Plant Pathology 774 Project management and
presentation
Course work will include lessons in project
identification, planning and execution, writing of research proposals and
reports, presentation of research findings, scientific collaboration and
ethics in science. Exercises in project planning and execution will
be conducted under supervision. A literature study and scientific findings
will be presented as scientific manuscripts and as an oral
presentation.
Subject to continuous assessment.
Plant Pathology 775 Advanced topics in plant pathology
Topical issues in plant pathology will be discussed in this module. These include aspects such as climate change, food security and genetic modification. Students are expected to prepare properly for these discussions by doing internet searches and reading research papers and books on the individual topics. The topic will be introduced by an expert, after which a class discussion will follow. Students will be expected to prepare a one-page document of their views on the topic and list the literature sources that they have accessed.
Subject to continuous assessment.
MSc (Plant Pathology)
Requirements for
admission
BScAgric (Plant Pathology) - an average mark of 60% is required in the Plant Pathology final year modules.
BScHons (Plant
Pathology)
Composition and content
The programme consists
of only a research component.
Master's
thesis
Research projects can be selected from one of the following
themes: Fungal taxonomy (description and reclassification of known and new fungi
by the application of various methods, such as molecular technology); applied
molecular plant pathology, including the use of molecular-based techniques for
the detection, diagnosis and characterisation of plant pathogenic populations of
vines, deciduous fruit, citrus and agronomic crops; pre- and postharvest
pathology in deciduous fruit, vines and citrus (status and behaviour of inocula
on fruit surfaces, infection processes and plant resistance reactions); stem
diseases in vines (ethiology, diagnosis, epidemiology and integrated
management); use of fungicides (spray technology) and fungal resistance
(sensitivity in wild populations and disruption after fungicide exposure,
management of fungicide resistance in fruit orchards, vine yards and agronomic
crops: integrated management (chemical, biological and alternative compounds) of
diseases in deciduous fruit, vines, citrus and agronomic crops. New or existing
disease epidemics of economic importance are also researched.
?PhD (Plant Pathology)
Requirements for
admission
MSc (Plant Pathology) or MScAgric (Plant Pathology)
Composition and content
A dissertation
containing original research is required.
PhD's dissertation
Research projects can be
selected from one of the following themes: Fungal taxonomy (description and
reclassification of known and new fungi by the application of various methods,
such as molecular technology); applied molecular plant pathology, including the
use of molecular-based techniques for the detection, diagnosis and
characterisation of plant pathogenic populations of vines, deciduous fruit,
citrus and agronomic crops; pre- and postharvest pathology in deciduous fruit,
vines and citrus (status and behaviour of inocula on fruit surfaces, infection
processes and plant resistance reactions); stem diseases in vines (ethiology,
diagnosis, epidemiology and integrated management); use of fungicides (spray
technology) and fungal resistance (sensitivity in wild populations and
disruption after fungicide exposure, management of fungicide resistance in fruit
orchards, vine yards and agronomic crops: integrated management (chemical,
biological and alternative compounds) of diseases in deciduous fruit, vines,
citrus and agronomic crops. New or existing disease epidemics of economic
importance are also researched.
For any enquiries concerning future postgraduate studies, please contact Lizeth Swart and send your full academic record to: LS3@sun.ac.za
Bursaries, application and fees
List of Plant Pathology Alumni
Postgraduate students currently registered
Guidelines for writing a thesis/dissertation at the Department of Plant Pathology
