CROP 222: Insect biology and Plant Microbes

Insects as arthropods and their inter-relationship with other members of the phylum Arthropoda.  Characteristics of insects, features of insects that have enhanced their success.  Importance of insects to agriculture.  Morphology of insects; Anatomy and physiology of organ systems.  Locomotion in insects, and some aspects of insect behaviour.  Entomological techniques.  Classification of insects, with emphasis on the recognition of representation of all the insect orders.  History of Microbiology: role of discovery and spontaneous generation of microbes and germ theory of diseases.  Characteristics of plant microbes (fungi, bacteria, viruses, viroids, mollicutes, nematodes, algae and protozoa): morphology, structure and function, growth, reproduction, dispersal and classification of the microbes.  Importance of plant microbes in agriculture: including soil fertility involving rhizobia, mycorrhiza and algae.