Introduction to Plant Health

Although plant health is currently part of the definition of One Health, it has traditionally and mistakenly been overlooked.

Plants provide over 80% of the food consumed by humans and are the primary source of nutrition for livestock. Plant pathogens and pests influence the availability and safety of plants for human and animal consumption, reduce crop yield and detrimentally affect their quality.

As the threats to plant biosecurity have increased with the globalisation in trade and travel, the effective control of pests and diseases is more fundamental than ever to the economic, environmental and health benefits plant life sustains.

This Introduction to Plant Health course will provide you with an understanding of basic concepts in plant pathology and how the health of plants influences wider elements of ecosystems.

Course content

The Introduction to Plant Health course is provided entirely online. Candidates can study at their own pace, but the course should take a total of around 8 hours to complete.

Topics covered include:

• Fundamentals of plant health
• Classification and symptoms of important plant pathogens
• Nematodes and insect pests

Each module provides a range of information, resources and activities for candidates to work through.

The aims of the course are to provide:

• An understanding of healthy plants as an important driver of food security and safety, as a source of livelihoods and as part of healthy environments
• An overview of the main symptoms of plant pathogens (fungi, viruses, and bacteria) on a wide range of crops and other plants
• An introduction to insect and nematode plant pests

The objectives are that by the end of the course the candidate will be able to:

• Highlight the key role healthy plants play in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
• Explain some of the phytosanitary measures that can be put in place to reduce the likelihood of introduction or spread of harmful organisms
• Outline the general characteristics of fungal, bacterial and viral plant pathogens
• Discuss the transmission pathways of these pathogens and some of the methods available to control them
• Describe the symptoms of an infestation by root-attacking nematodes
• Provide examples of major plant pests and the direct/indirect damage to plants they cause

Once the course is complete, there is an online examination, which comprises of 10 multiple choice questions to be answered in 30 minutes.

After passing the online examination, candidates will be able to download and print off a certificate of completion.