Join the exciting world of plant pathology!
 A plant pathologist
is a person who specialises in plant health, much like a doctor specializes
in human health or a veterinarian in animal health. Keeping plants
healthy requires an understanding of the organisms and agents that
cause disease, as well as knowledge of how plants grow and are affected
by disease. The fields of research and career opportunities in plant
pathology are many and varied.
 In your "UP with Science" project in
plant pathology you will be exposed to as many of these fields of
possible. Each lecturer will introduce you to their specialization
in plant pathology. You will be doing laboratory work, going on field
trips and visiting nurseries, fresh produce markets and other arenas
in which plant pathology is required.
One of the aspects you will be looking at is the safety of fresh produce. You will sample and test fresh produce for the presence of foodborne pathogens and compare the microbial count on the non treated fresh produce to those treated with various disinfectants. Selective media will be used to enrich foodborne pathogens and rapid diagnostic methods will be used to identify the organisms.
|
