Annexure ‘CD – 01’
FORMAT FOR COURSE CURRICULUM
Course Title: Plant - Microbe Interaction
L
T
P/S
SW/
FW
2
0
2
2
Course Code: MBT704
TOTAL
CREDIT
UNITS
04
Credit Units: 03+01
Course Objectives: To apprise the students of the synergistic and antagonistic systems and mechanisms of interaction between microbes and in plants
beneficial to humans.
Pre-requisites: Basic knowledge of Life Sciences
Student Learning Outcomes:
 Describe the systems and the nature of plant microbe interactions.
 Define the mechanisms of beneficial interactions and explain the ways of taking the best advantages from the interactions and the future prospects, and
 Design the system and mechanism of harmful interactions and the ways to mitigate the harm in a sustainable manner and the future prospects.
 Appraise the role of microbes in soil health improvement
Course Contents/Syllabus:
Module I
 An introduction to plant microbe interactions and their evolution
 Types and nature of various interaction like symbiosis, parasitism, mutualism, commensalisms, saprophytism,
and necrotrphism
 The concept of microbe plant micro-ecological spheres like rhizosphere, phyllosphere and endosphere
Module II
 Plant disease etiology, epidemiology, development process (morpho-physiolological, biochemical and
molecular) and management
 Introduction to the concept of integrated disease management (A few appropriate and important microbial
diseases will be employed as examples to explain various systems)
Module III
 Types and mechanisms of disease resistance: general and specific to pathogens
 Introduction to molecular basis of resistance. (A few appropriate and important microbial diseases will be
employed as examples to explain various systems)
Module IV
 Rhizospheric microbes: associative, free living, symbiotic (including nitrogen fixers)
 The nature and mechanism of interactions (including signaling system establishment) of these microbes in plant
nutrition, water uptake and imparting resistance to stresses
 Management of these microbes for the benefit of agriculturally important plants.
Module V
 Definitions and nature of endophytes and how to identify endophytes
 Establishment, growth and transmission of endophytes
 Roles the endophytes play in plant metabolism, nutrition and resistance to stresses
 Interaction among endophytes
 Endophyte pathogen transitions
 Use of endophytes in enhancing quality and quantity of plant products (secondary metabolites and nutritional
Quality) for human use
 Phyllospheric microbes: nature and interaction with plants.
Lab/Practical Details:
 Isolation of Rhizobium from root nodules.
 In vitro Interaction of a bacterial and fungal species
 Rhizospehric and non rhizospheric microbial count
 Microbiota of phyllosphere
Weightage (%)
10
15
20
25
30

General Phytochemical Screening for presence or absence of Secondary Metabolites
Pedagogy for Course Delivery:
(a) Lecture Plan/Session Plan : Lectures, Writing on Board, Power point presentation, discussion of various Case studies.
(b) Lab Practicals: Hands-On Training
(c) Self Work: Case Studies, Review of Literature, Home Assignment
Assessment/ Examination Scheme:
Theory L/T (%)
Lab/Practical/Studio (%)
End Term Examination
75
25
100
Theory Assessment (L&T):
Components
(Drop down)
Weightage (%)
Class Test 1
5
Continuous Assessment/Internal Assessment (30)
Self-work
Home Assignment Seminar/ Presentation
10
5
5
End Term Examination
Attendance
5
70
Lab/ Practical/ Studio Assessment:
Components
(Drop down)
Weightage (%)
Continuous Assessment/Internal Assessment (40)
Performance Lab record
Viva
Attendance
20
10
5
5
End Term Examination (60)
Practical
Viva
40
20
Text & References:
 Microbial Activity in the Rhizosphere (Soil Biology Series), Published by Springer-Verlag, Germany, Editors: KG Mukerji, C. Manoharachary & J. Singh
(2006) (ISBN 9783540294207)
 Mycorrhiza Manual, Published by Springer-Verlag, Germany, Editor: A. Varma (ISBN: 9783540624370)
 Plant Pathology 5th edition (2005) GN Agrios Elsevier Academic Press (ISBN: 9780120445653)
Any other Study Material: Research Papers