Unit 2226: Pest and Disease Management in Agriculture and Horticulture

1. Overview of Common Pests and Diseases

• Introduction to plant pests and diseases
• Common agricultural and horticultural pests
  • Insects (e.g., aphids, caterpillars, beetles)
  • Mites and nematodes
• Common plant diseases
  • Fungal (e.g., powdery mildew, rusts)
  • Bacterial (e.g., bacterial blight)
  • Viral diseases
• Symptoms and signs of pest and disease damage
• Impact on crop yield and quality

2. Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

• Principles of IPM
  • Prevention, monitoring, and control
• Components of IPM
  • Biological methods
  • Cultural methods
  • Physical/mechanical methods
  • Chemical methods
• Decision-making and threshold levels
• Benefits of sustainable pest management

3. Cultural Practices for Pest and Disease Prevention

• Crop rotation and diversification
• Sanitation practices
  • Removal of infected plant material
  • Cleaning tools and equipment
• Proper plant spacing and pruning
• Soil health management
• Selection of resistant varieties

4. Biological Control Methods

• Natural enemies of pests
  • Predators (lady beetles, lacewings)
  • Parasitoids (wasps, flies)
  • Pathogens (bacteria, fungi, viruses)
• Conservation and augmentation of beneficial organisms
• Introduction and release strategies
• Advantages and limitations of biological control

5. Chemical Control Strategies

• Types of pesticides and fungicides
• Selection criteria for chemical controls
• Safe handling and application techniques
• Environmental and health considerations
• Resistance management

6. Monitoring and Scouting Techniques

• Importance of regular monitoring
• Visual inspection methods
• Use of traps (pheromone, sticky traps)
• Sampling techniques and population assessment
• Recording and interpreting data

7. Disease Diagnosis and Management

• Identifying symptoms and signs
• Laboratory diagnostic methods
• Management strategies
  • Sanitation and hygiene
  • Pruning and removal of infected parts
  • Use of resistant varieties
  • Chemical treatments

8. Climate Change and Pest/Disease Dynamics

• Effects of climate change on pest biology and ecology
• Changes in pest distribution and population dynamics
• Emerging pests and diseases
• Adapting management strategies to climate variability

9. Organic Pest and Disease Management

• Principles of organic pest control
• Use of natural products (botanical insecticides, oils)
• Enhancing beneficial insect populations
• Cultural practices supporting organic management
• Certification and regulatory considerations