Pest and Disease Diagnostics for International Trade and Food Security

August 10-21, 2009 The Ohio State University Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center Wooster, Ohio  USA Course outline and information  > Short Course brochure (pdf)

The Ohio State University will conduct a two-week, lab-based short course providing intensive training in classical and modern plant disease and insect pest diagnostics.  Training in data management, and Sanitary/Phytosanitary (SPS) issues that affect international trade will also be provided.  Enrollment limit is 15 participants.

Preliminary List of Topics to be Covered

• Art and Science of Plant Disease Diagnosis
• Sampling/sample submission procedure and contact information for unusual samples
• Monitoring for high risk plant pathogens
• Distance Diagnostics through Digital Imaging
• Clinic Information Management System (CIMS)     
• Digital Diagnostic Imaging System (DDIS) and Communication Tools
• Developing and using Standard Operating Protocols Tuesday (SOPs) for pathogen and insect pest diagnoses
• Diagnosis of diseases caused by viruses and viroids
• Virology laboratory – hands-on
  Symptoms of virus diseases
  ELISA
  Seroblot
• Diagnosis of diseases caused by bacteria and phytoplasmas
• Bacteriology laboratory – hands-on
  Symptoms of bacterial diseases
  Microscopic techniques
  Culturing and definitive tests
  ELISA
  PCR
• Diagnosis of diseases caused by fungi and fungal-like pathogens
• Web-based resources for fungal identification
• Hands-on diagnosis of fungi and oomycetes – laboratory
  Microscopy
  Moist chambers
  Culturing; non-selective and selective media
• General insect diagnostic techniques
• Insect diagnostics labs - hands-on
  General insect characteristics (Orders)
  Web tools
  Key characteristics needed for remote identification –                       
  PCR for insect pest diagnostics
• Mites of agricultural importance
• Insect pests of tropical flowers: developing a clean stock program
• Diagnosis of diseases caused by nematodes
• Nematology laboratory – hands-on
• Introduction to Sanitary/Phytosanitary (SPS) Requirements for Trade
• Diagnostics at the US federal level (USDA APHIS)
• Food safety of fresh vegetables

Potential Case Studies (these are case studies presented in 2008; we are open to suggestions for topics)

Case study: insect group Hemiptera: Homoptera group (lab)

Case study: Phytophthora

Case study: Ralstonia solanacearum

Case study: insect group Hemiptera: Homoptera, group                   

Case study: insect group Lepidoptera: Pyralidae and Noctuidae, group

Case study: insect group Thysanoptera: Thripidae and  Diptera: Tephritidae, Agromyzidae, group

Case study: Mycotoxins in cereals

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 Coordinators

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• The Ohio State University
   Department of Plant Pathology
   Department of Entomology
   Office of International Programs in Agriculture
• University of Florida
• Purdue University
• Virginia Tech
• USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
• National Plant Diagnostic Network
• International Plant Diagnostic Network
• US Agency for International Development

 
Application deadline: June 1, 2009 (limited to 15 participants)

Registration fee: $250 (non-refundable)

Course fee: $4,000 (non-refundable after July 1, 2009)

Course fee includes instruction/bench fee, materials, local travel (except to/from airport), local meals and lodging.