Social Impact of Plant Diseases in Shaping Human Society

Online course - 3 credits; offered Autumn, Winter and Spring quarters

What happened to the mighty American Chestnut? Why did the Romans make sacrifices to Robigus, the god of wheat rust? How did early civilizations view unexplained crop damage? What plant diseases threaten our environment and food supply today? PLNTPTH 201D is an online course that explores plant diseases from both historical and scientific perspectives.  The courses can be done on your own computer during the quarter. The content is not heavily technical but rich in information about plant diseases.  Topics range from basic concepts and history of plant pathology to famine issues, bioterrorism, phytosanitation and more.

Contact: Sarah Ellis, Department of Plant Pathology (ellis.293@osu.edu)

Sample of Course Content: Ergot

"On August 12th, 1951 Dr. Jean Vieu in Pont St. Esprit, France was puzzled. He'd just returned from making a professional medical call. At first, he thought this was just another case of acute appendicitis because the patient complained of pain in the lower abdomen and tension in the abdominal wall. However, there were no other usual symptoms-no rigidities on the right side, and no instinctive flexing of the right knee. Instead of the usual fever, the patient had a low body temperature and cold fingertips. Yet, the strangest symptom of all was the wild babbling of the patient often present in hallucinations of dementia."

"The 3 doctors acted quickly and persuaded the Major to institute a house-to-house search for clues. The investigation uncovered one common element: all of the patients had eaten bread from the same bakery. Samples of this wheat bread were found in the homes and were sent to Marseilles for analysis."

"The people and the doctors did what they could to relieve the pain and suffering. Dozens of straitjackets were rushed into the town and had to be forcibly placed on the victims to prevent attempts of suicide. The doctors were harassed, overworked and worried about the attitude, fear, and superstition that had settled over Pont St. Esprit, as well as the anxious nation. Some of the villagers suspected that their government was inflicting mass poisoning on the people for obscure political reasons. Others accused the villiage idiot of having put a curse on the bread baker."

"Finally, the chief toxicologist of Marseilles sent his report to the town and the nation. The bread contained 20 alkaloid poisons, 3 of them very harmful, and all came from the same source. The poisons were found from a fungus growth that changed normal kernels of rye into purple colored structures called ergots."

What is ergot and why is it important?  You'll learn more about these and other fungal toxins in PLNTPTH 201D.

 This course is also offered to non-OSU students through the Office of Continuing Education.  Anyone can take this course!  > More