Plant Interactions (BIOL3011)

Course overview

Topics include molecular & biochemical interactions of plants with microbes & insects, cell signalling pathways, molecular defence responses, disease diagnostics, applications in agriculture & biotech, as well as some interesting evolutionary & ecological aspects.

In this course, you will learn how plants interact with other organisms and their environment in a beneficial, neutral or detrimental manner. After this course you will be familiar with Plant-Microbe skills and basic Molecular Techniques (even without prior knowledge). You will also know how to apply this knowledge in Plant Biotechnology or in Ecology. The course covers traditional and molecular plant pathology and physiology including the function of the "immune system" of plants, cell signalling pathways, functional genomics, the role of plant microbiomes and concepts in plant molecular biology, biotechnology and sustainable agriculture.

In particular, the course aims to increase our understanding of ecological, biochemical, genetic and molecular aspects of beneficial and parasitic interactions of plants with other organisms and the environment. You will gain an overview of the multiple interactions of plants (agricultural and native flora) with other organisms such as parasitic and symbiotic microorganisms, fungi, viruses, bacteria, nematodes and insects in various environments. The course covers economically important interactions with bacteria, fungi and insects as well as abiotic stress tolerance that are essential in providing our food supply.

A two hour lecture will be given per week and a continuous Lab Project will isolate and identify potentially beneficial soil bacteria that live in the rhizosphere of plants. From this you will learn useful skills in scientific experimental design, applied microbiology, plant physiology, bioinformatics and molecular biology techniques that you will be able to use in your future work. Importantly, the course assessment is designed to foster critical thinking skills required for applying your knowledge.

In 2024, you will have the unique opportunity to attend an international scientific conference and explore the most cutting edge research in the space of plant-microbe interactions.

ﾠIn the course we:

• apply methods in plant science and microbiology, including phenotypic assessments and new molecular approaches to better understand plant interactions with their environment.
• assess the co-evolution of symbionts and parasites and their host plants. Why are most plants resistant to most pathogens?
• determine how the interaction between a host and a parasite or symbiont can be controlled, in some instances, by single genes which activate a whole battery of defence genes in the plant. In contrast, the pathogen may evolve means to avoid detection by the host and subsequently parasitises the plant.
• investigate the signalling pathways in the plant that lead to defence gene activation and also the mechanisms the pathogen or symbiont uses to sense a host plant, infect it and to ultimately gain nutrients from the host.
• learn how insects find plants and how plants fight back and then find strategies for insect resistance.
• examine and debate the methods and roles of genetic engineering and beneficial microbes in plant disease control, particularly as alternatives to chemical control.

Course requirements

Assumed background

BIOL2203 Plant Biology and BIOL2205ﾠInsect Scienceﾠis recommended but not a requirement.ﾠSome understanding of molecular biology,ﾠmicrobiology or plant defence pathways is helpful.

Recommended prerequisites

We recommend completing the following courses before enrolling in this one:

BIOL2203

Incompatible

You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:

BIOL7012 (co-taught)

Course contact

Course staff

Timetable

The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.

Additional timetable information

You will be required to attend a field trip to attend a conference at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre from 8am to 3.30pm on Thursday, 3 October 2024. Students are expected to make their own way to and from the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, South Brisbane. Morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea will be provided. No other costs are associated with the field trip. The field trip is compulsory, however, please contact the course coordinators by COB Week 2 as some accommodations can be made in exceptional circumstances. After this date, and on the day of the field trip an extension request must be completed via My Requests to access alternative arrangements to complete the associated assessment. 

Aims and outcomes

The aim of this course is to provide you with the knowledge and skills that could lead to a career (applied or research) in Plant Sciences or related areas. Examples of where these skills are required include DAF, State Government research advisory bodies, CSIRO, university research labs, Biotech and Agricultural and Chemical Industries.

This course provides interdisciplinary knowledge and skills and is useful to a range of people including those interested in: plant pathology and plant symbiotic biology (traditional or molecular); molecular interactions between organisms and their environment; diagnostics and plant biotechnology, molecular biology and functional genomics and learning practical skills that prepare them for future employment.

Learning outcomes

After successfully completing this course you should be able to:

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment details

Plant Interactions Annotated Bibliography

Mode

Written

Category

Paper/ Report/ Annotation

Weight

20%

Due date

30/08/2024 2:00 pm

Other conditions

Student specific.

See the conditions definitions

Learning outcomes

L05

Task description

Submission guidelines

You must submit your Assessment task, in Blackboard, via the Turnitin link by the submission deadline. You should also retain an electronic copy of every piece of assessment you submit.
Legal Declaration By submitting your work via this website, you formally declare that (1) it is your own original work, and no part of the work has been copied from any other source or person except where due acknowledgement is made; (2) no part of the work has been previously submitted for assessment in this or any other institution; and (3) you have read the UQ Academic Integrity and Plagiarism Policy (http://ppl.app.uq.edu.au/content/3.60.04-student-integrity-and-misconduct) and understand its implications.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

Late submission

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.

Assessment deadlines are firm and must be met. Late submission without permission or non-submission of assessable work will result in penalties being applied. Late submission of assessment will only be granted for documented medical reasons, accident, bereavement, jury service and other circumstances allowed in the UQ Policies and Procedures Library (PPL). See 6.1 Assessment Related Policies & Guidelines for links to the University Guidelines and Applications for Extensions.  

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark allocated for the assessment item, or one grade per day if graded on the basis of 1-7, or equivalent penalty if an alternative grading approach is used, will be deducted per day for up to 7 calendar days, at which point any submission will not receive any marks unless an extension has been approved. Each 24-hour block is recorded from the time the submission is due.  

Submission of an Extension of Assessment Due Date (EADD) should be completed online through your My Requests tab via my.UQ Dashboard before the due date of the assessment item. 

Lab Project - Report

Mode

Written

Category

Participation/ Student contribution, Project

Weight

35%

Due date

4/10/2024 2:00 pm

Task description

Submission guidelines

You must submit your Assessment task, in Blackboard, via the Turnitin link by the submission deadline. You should also retain an electronic copy of every piece of assessment you submit.
Legal Declaration By submitting your work via this website, you formally declare that (1) it is your own original work, and no part of the work has been copied from any other source or person except where due acknowledgement is made; (2) no part of the work has been previously submitted for assessment in this or any other institution; and (3) you have read the UQ Academic Integrity and Plagiarism Policy (http://ppl.app.uq.edu.au/content/3.60.04-student-integrity-and-misconduct) and understand its implications.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

Late submission

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.

Assessment deadlines are firm and must be met. Late submission without permission or non-submission of assessable work will result in penalties being applied. Late submission of assessment will only be granted for documented medical reasons, accident, bereavement, jury service and other circumstances allowed in the UQ Policies and Procedures Library (PPL). See 6.1 Assessment Related Policies & Guidelines for links to the University Guidelines and Applications for Extensions.  

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark allocated for the assessment item, or one grade per day if graded on the basis of 1-7, or equivalent penalty if an alternative grading approach is used, will be deducted per day for up to 7 calendar days, at which point any submission will not receive any marks unless an extension has been approved. Each 24-hour block is recorded from the time the submission is due.  

Submission of an Extension of Assessment Due Date (EADD) should be completed online through your My Requests tab via my.UQ Dashboard before the due date of the assessment item. 

Conference Seminar Reflection

Mode

Written

Category

Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Participation/ Student contribution, Reflection

Weight

10%

Due date

11/10/2024 2:00 pm

Other conditions

Student specific.

See the conditions definitions

Task description

Submission guidelines

You must submit your Assessment task, in Blackboard, via the Turnitin link by the submission deadline. You should also retain an electronic copy of every piece of assessment you submit. Legal Declaration By submitting your work via this website, you formally declare that (1) it is your own original work, and no part of the work has been copied from any other source or person except where due acknowledgement is made; (2) no part of the work has been previously submitted for assessment in this or any other institution; and (3) you have read the UQ Academic Integrity and Plagiarism Policy (http://ppl.app.uq.edu.au/content/3.60.04-student-integrity-and-misconduct) and understand its implications.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

Late submission

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.

Assessment deadlines are firm and must be met. Late submission without permission or non-submission of assessable work will result in penalties being applied. Late submission of assessment will only be granted for documented medical reasons, accident, bereavement, jury service and other circumstances allowed in the UQ Policies and Procedures Library (PPL). See 6.1 Assessment Related Policies & Guidelines for links to the University Guidelines and Applications for Extensions.  

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark allocated for the assessment item, or one grade per day if graded on the basis of 1-7, or equivalent penalty if an alternative grading approach is used, will be deducted per day for up to 7 calendar days, at which point any submission will not receive any marks unless an extension has been approved. Each 24-hour block is recorded from the time the submission is due.  

Submission of an Extension of Assessment Due Date (EADD) should be completed online through your My Requests tab via my.UQ Dashboard before the due date of the assessment item. 

Lecture Concepts Mind Map

Mode

Written

Category

Paper/ Report/ Annotation

Weight

35%

Due date

25/10/2024 2:00 pm

Task description

Submission guidelines

You must submit your Assessment task, in Blackboard, via the Turnitin link by the submission deadline. You should also retain an electronic copy of every piece of assessment you submit.
Legal Declaration By submitting your work via this website, you formally declare that (1) it is your own original work, and no part of the work has been copied from any other source or person except where due acknowledgement is made; (2) no part of the work has been previously submitted for assessment in this or any other institution; and (3) you have read the UQ Academic Integrity and Plagiarism Policy (http://ppl.app.uq.edu.au/content/3.60.04-student-integrity-and-misconduct) and understand its implications.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

Late submission

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.

Assessment deadlines are firm and must be met. Late submission without permission or non-submission of assessable work will result in penalties being applied. Late submission of assessment will only be granted for documented medical reasons, accident, bereavement, jury service and other circumstances allowed in the UQ Policies and Procedures Library (PPL). See 6.1 Assessment Related Policies & Guidelines for links to the University Guidelines and Applications for Extensions.  

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark allocated for the assessment item, or one grade per day if graded on the basis of 1-7, or equivalent penalty if an alternative grading approach is used, will be deducted per day for up to 7 calendar days, at which point any submission will not receive any marks unless an extension has been approved. Each 24-hour block is recorded from the time the submission is due.  

Submission of an Extension of Assessment Due Date (EADD) should be completed online through your My Requests tab via my.UQ Dashboard before the due date of the assessment item. 

Course grading

Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.

Supplementary assessment

Supplementary assessment is available for this course.

Additional assessment information

TurnItIn Assignments

Assignments that are required to be submitted through TurnItIn, must only be uploaded to the assessment specific Turnitin link on the relevant course Blackboard site.ﾠ If you submit any version of your assessment item to any alternative Turnitin link, this is considered cheating and you will be held liable for this action.ﾠ

Academic Integrity and Plagiarism

All reported work must be done by the individual student. Assignments that look and sound alike will be reported as plagiarism – a serious offence at UQ. Please note the university’s policy on academic integrity and plagiarism which can be accessed at https://policies.uq.edu.au/document/view-current.php?id=225

Results

Unless specifically indicated by the course coordinator, every attempt will be made to have the results for progressive assessment available within 3 weeks of submission. For items of assessment submitted in the last 2 weeks of the semester, the results will not be available until grades release day. Results and feedback availability will be advised to you by email or announced via the course Blackboard site.

Re-mark Applications – refer to the University's Re-mark Policy to check your eligibility

Before applying for a remark, students should consider the following:

• You have consulted the course coordinator for feedback
• Your academic grounds for remark have been discussed and are valid
• Wanting a higher grade is not grounds for a remark. A remark can decrease your grade.

Remark applications will not be considered without first having contacted your course Co-ordinator.

Information for students can be found at https://my.uq.edu.au/information-and-services/manage-my-program/exams-and-assessment/querying-result

Deferred and Supplementary assessment (including Deferred Mid-Semester Examinations)

Deferred and Supplementary information can be located on the my.UQ website

• Apply for a deferred examination
• Information on supplementary assessment

Learning resources

You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.

Library resources

Library resources are available on the UQ Library website.

Other course materials

Additional learning resources information

A detailed timetable and prac manual will be provided at the first lecture.

Learning activities

The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.

Policies and procedures

University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:

• Student Code of Conduct Policy
• Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
• Assessment Procedure
• Examinations Procedure
• Reasonable Adjustments - Students Policy and Procedure

Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.

You'll also need to be aware of the following policies and procedures while completing this course:

• Occupational Health and Safety in the Laboratory Guideline