Microbiology and Phycology

SYLLABUS COVERED

Unit 1: Introduction to fungi (6 lectures)
General characteristics; Affinities with plants and animals; Thallus organization;
Cell wall composition; Nutrition; Classification.

Unit 2: Chytridiomycota, Zygomycota, Ascomycota and Basidiomycota (23 lecture)
Characteristic features; Ecology and signicance; Thallus organisation; Reproduction; Life cycle with reference to Synchytrium, Rhizopus .General characteristics (asexual and sexual fruiting bodies); Ecology; Life
cycle, Heterokaryosis and parasexuality; Life cycle and classification with reference to Saccharomyces, Aspergillus, Penicillium, Alternaria, Neurospora and Peziza. General characteristics; Ecology; Life cycle and Classification with reference to black stem rust on wheat Puccinia (Physiological Specialization), loose and
covered smut (symptoms only), Agaricus; Bioluminescence, Fairy Rings and Mushroom Cultivation.

Unit 3: Allied Fungi and Oomycota (7 lectures)
General characteristics; Status of Slime molds, Classification; Occurrence; Types of plasmodia; Types of fruiting bodies. General characteristics; Ecology; Life cycle and classification with reference to Phytophthora, Albugo.

Unit 4: Symbiotic associations (4 lectures)
Lichen – Occurrence; General characteristics; Growth forms and range of thallus organization; Nature of associations of algal and fungal partners; Reproduction; Mycorrhiza-Ectomycorrhiza, Endomycorrhiza and their significance.

Unit 5: Applied Mycology (10 Lectures)
Role of fungi in biotechnology; Application of fungi in food industry (Flavour & texture, Fermentation, Baking, Organic acids, Enzymes, Mycoproteins); Secondary metabolites(Pharmaceutical preparations); Agriculture (Biofertilizers); Mycotoxins; Biological control (Mycofungicides, Mycoherbicides, Mycoinsecticides, Myconematicides); Medical mycology.

Unit 6: Phytopathology (10 lectures)
Terms and concepts; General symptoms; Geographical distribution of diseases; Etiology; Symptomology; Host-Pathogen relationships; Disease cycle and environmental relation; prevention and control of plant diseases, and role of quarantine. Bacterial diseases – Citrus canker and angular leaf spot of cotton. Viral
diseases – Tobacco Mosaic viruses, vein clearing. Algal disease- Cephalurous, Fungal diseases – Early blight of potato, Black stem rust of wheat, White rust of crucifers.