I. General Information

1. Course Title:
Integrated Pest Management

2. Course Prefix & Number:
HORT 2116

3. Course Credits and Contact Hours:

Credits: 4

Lecture Hours: 2

Lab Hours: 4

4. Course Description:

This course is a study of insects and diseases that have an important economic impact in the fields of horticulture, floriculture, and forestry. It provides an introduction to the theory and practice of solving problems that affect many different types of crops. Management methods include detection, scouting procedures, economic thresholds, and cultural and biological control.  Emphasis is also placed on assessing insects and diseases that are common to our crops, backyards, and greenhouses.

5. Placement Tests Required:

6. Prerequisite Courses:

9. Co-requisite Courses:

II. Transfer and Articulation

III. Course Purpose

1. Program-Applicable Courses – This course is required for the following program(s):

IV. Learning Outcomes

1. College-Wide Outcomes

2. Course Specific Outcomes - Students will be able to achieve the following measurable goals upon completion of the course:

V. Topical Outline

Listed below are major areas of content typically covered in this course.

1. Lecture Sessions

1.         Diseases

• The Disease Triangle
  • Host
  • Pathogen
  • Environmental conditions
• Fungi
  • growth
  • reproduction
  • breaking the triangle
  • characteristics of infection
• Bacteria
  • growth
  • reproduction
  • breaking the triangle
  • characteristics of infection
• Viruses
  • growth
  • reproduction
  • breaking the triangle
  • characteristics of infection
• Nematodes
  • growth
  • reproduction
  • breaking the triangle
  • characteristics of infection
• Phytoplasma like organisms (MLOs)
  • growth
  • reproduction
  • breaking the triangle
  • characteristics of infection

2.         Insects

• Classification to Order (characteristics at each level)
• Animal kingdom
• Arthropod phylum
• Insecta/hexepoda class
• Insect characteristics
• # of body parts
• # of legs, antennae, wings
• Mouth parts
• Metamorphosis
• Complete
• Incomplete
• Gradual

3.         Environmental Concerns

• Freezing to over heating
• Humidity levels
• Soil/media moisture levels
• Natural and artificial light levels
• IV. Non Chemical Control
• Environmental manipulation
• Changing watering schedules
• Raising/lowering humidity level
• Altering harvest or planting times
• Altering light levels
• Traps
• Beneficial insects and diseases
• Soil sterilization

5.         Chemical Control

• Environmental concerns
• Efficacy
• Scheduling
• Killing Action

6.         Pesticide Labels

• Requirements by law
• Formulations
• Technical grades
• Safety

2. Laboratory/Studio Sessions

• Draw, dissect, and analyze fungi and their growth habit
• Draw, dissect and analyze a grasshopper
• Classify insects and insect like creatures into the proper Order of the scientific classification system
• Examine insect pests likely found in our backyards, greenhouses and crops
• Examine disease pests likely found in our backyards, greenhouses and crops
• Examine environmental pests likely to compromise plants in our backyards, greenhouses and crops