ENY 6261 -- INSECT RESISTANCE IN CROP PLANTS
MONDAY/WEDNESDAY/FRIDAY, Period 5 (11:45am - 12:35pm)
Room 2217, Bldg. 970, Natural Area Drive
Instructor and Office Hours:
Dr. Heather McAuslane
Room 2109, Entomology-Nematology Bldg.
Bldg. 970, Natural Area Drive
P.O. Box 110620
TEL 352-392-1901 X129 (office); X188 (lab)
FAX 352-392-0190
hjmca@ufl.edu
Office hours: One-half hour immediately after class and at other times by appointment.
Course Description: This course is taught in alternate years and is designed for graduate and/or upper-level undergraduate students in plant protection disciplines. It will describe the current theory and application of plant defense and the mechanisms of plant resistance to insects. It will delineate the principles of insect control through host plant resistance, the basis and genetics of plant resistance to insects, its relationship to integrated pest management, and the development and use of insect-resistant crop varieties.
Objectives and Goals: Learn the basic terminology of host plant resistance to insects; understand how insect behavior and physiology are affected by plant traits; know how to test for resistance in behavioral and physiological bioassays and in large scale field and greenhouse trials; understand basics of plant breeding and genetic engineering so that you can collaborate with plant breeders and molecular biologists; think "integration" of host plant resistance with other insect management tools and agronomic and pathogen management strategies.
Topics to be Covered
Prerequisites: Basic course in entomology (ENY 3005)
Textbook: None. Photocopied readings will be passed out in class and/or placed in a ENY 6261 box in the Entomology and Nematology reading room, Room 2105.
Assignments and Methods by which the Student will be Evaluated and Grades Determined: A term paper will be the major assignment for this course. You may choose from a list of topics presented to the class for consideration or you may develop your own topic, but the instructor must approve your topic of choice. In addition, you will be required to make an oral presentation of the content of your term paper. Please see the printed syllabus for more complete instructions regarding the term paper and oral presentation.
Grading:
Midterm exam I = 25%
Midterm exam II = 25%
Oral presentation = 15%
Term paper = 35%
Grading Scale:
A+ = 95-100%
A = 90-94%
B+ = 85-89%
B = 80-84%
C+ = 75-79%
C = 70-74%
D = 60-69%
F = <59%
Critical Dates for Exams or Other Work: Please see the printed syllabus for scheduled dates of exams. Midterm exams are scheduled to last 1.5 hours, and will usually begin one-half hour before normal class time, depending on student schedules. Exams consist of short answer and essay questions. There is no final examination. Students will be expected to sign the following statement on all exams: "On my honor I pledge that I have neither given nor received assistance in the completion of this test."
Policy Related to Class Attendance: Attendance is not taken in class and is not required. However valuable information and discussion will be missed if the student does not attend class.
Policy Related to Make-Up Exams or Other Work: Missed exams cannot be made up except in the case of prior excused absence or family or medical emergencies. Late assignments will lose 10% of their value each day after 5:00 p.m. on the due date. Weekends count as one day. Late assignments will not be accepted more than one week after their due date.
Class Demeanor Expected by Instructor: Please be considerate of your classmates by not chatting during lecture. The banging of doors is very distracting to both students and professor, therefore please arrive on time and do not leave early. Turn off cell phones and beepers before coming into classroom. UF rules prohibit your having food or drinks in classrooms. Use of tobacco products (in any form) in the classroom is prohibited.
Additional General Information: The following information applies to all courses at the University of Florida.
We, the members of the University of Florida community, pledge to hold ourselves and our peers to the highest standard of honesty and integrity.
Academic Honesty: As a result of completing the registration form at the University of Florida, every student has signed the following statement: "I understand that the University of Florida expects its students to be honest in all their academic work. I agree to adhere to this commitment to academic honesty and understand that my failure to comply with this commitment may result in disciplinary action up to and including expulsion from the University."
Copyrighted Materials and Software Use: All students are required and expected to obey the laws and legal agreements governing copyrighted material and software use. Failure to do so can lead to monetary damages and/or criminal penalties for the individual violator. Because such violations are also against University policies and rules, disciplinary action will be taken as appropriate.
Accommodations for Students with Disabilities: Students requesting classroom accommodation must first register with the Dean of Students Office. The Dean of Students will provide documentation to the student who must then provide this documentation to the Instructor when requesting accommodation.
University Counseling Services: Resources are available on-campus for students having personal problems or lacking clear career and academic goals which interfere with their academic performance. These resources include:
1. University Counseling Center, 301 Peabody Hall, 392-1575, personal and career counseling;
2. Student Mental Health, Student Health Care Center, 392-1171, personal counseling;
3. Sexual Assault Recovery Services (SARS), Student Health Care Center, 392-1161, sexual counseling; and
4. Career Resource Center, Reitz Union, 392-1601, career development assistance and counseling.