Horticulture 10, 20, 30: Curriculum Guidelines

Module 18: Pest and Disease Management (Optional )

Suggested time: 5-15 hours

Level: Advanced

Prerequisite: Module 4

Foundational Objectives

To introduce students to fundamentals of horticulture.

To develop knowledge and appreciation for horticulture and its role in our society.

To recognize health and safety hazards in the workplace so that the potential for personal injury and damage to equipment or the environment is minimized.

Common Essential Learnings Foundational Objectives

To enable students to understand that positive plant culture requires comprehension of pathogens, insects, diseases and their control. (IL, CCT)

To recognize health and safety hazards associated with handling and application of chemical controls in the workplace. (TL)

Learning Objectives

Notes

18.1
To understand a holistic approach to pest management. (CCT)

Have the students describe their interpretation of Integrated Pest Management (IPM).

Outline the history of IPM with the class.

Explain the concept of IPM using an example such as white fly control, aphid control or spidermite control.

Have the students list advantages and disadvantages of implementing an IPM program in a commercial or hobby greenhouse.

18.2
To understand the variation in life cycles of common insect pests.

Have the students identify three different types of insect life cycles.

Determine at which stage in the life cycle of these common insects the most damage to plants occurs.

Have the students diagram and describe an insect’s life cycle as it relates to horticulture. (COM)

18.3
To determine which pest management methods are the most effective. (CCT )

Have the students research different methods of pest management including the following methods of insect control:

cultural

physical

biological

chemical

Prepare and present a discussion paper wherein the control of a specific insect pest is attained using all four methodologies. (COM, CCT)

18.4
To identify common insect pests and their damage .

Have students collect and identify insect pests. Those that are fairly common include the following: aphids, birch leaf miner, cankerworm, sod web worm, white fly, fungus gnat, potato beetle, and cabbage butterfly.

18.5
To identify and control common landscape diseases and how they are controlled.

Caution students about the health risks that can result from careless handling of fungi and their spores.

Have student collect and identify local fungi and compare their spread to bacterial diseases.

Students can conduct research and report on the most serious virus, bacterial or fungal problem in horticultural crops in their area.

Contact a chemical manufacturing company to determine its products that are useful for fungus control.

Determine cultural and physical controls for fungal and bacterial problems.

18.6
To describe methods of pest control using organic control methods. (IL)

Have students create experiments to determine the effectiveness of organic controls. Several methods are available for students to investigate. These methods may include companion planting, organic soil additives, and natural compounds (rhubarb leaf extract).

Learning Objectives	Notes
18.1 To understand a holistic approach to pest management. (CCT)	Have the students describe their interpretation of Integrated Pest Management (IPM). Outline the history of IPM with the class. Explain the concept of IPM using an example such as white fly control, aphid control or spidermite control. Have the students list advantages and disadvantages of implementing an IPM program in a commercial or hobby greenhouse.
18.2 To understand the variation in life cycles of common insect pests.	Have the students identify three different types of insect life cycles. Determine at which stage in the life cycle of these common insects the most damage to plants occurs. Have the students diagram and describe an insect’s life cycle as it relates to horticulture. (COM)
18.3 To determine which pest management methods are the most effective. (CCT )	Have the students research different methods of pest management including the following methods of insect control: cultural physical biological chemical Prepare and present a discussion paper wherein the control of a specific insect pest is attained using all four methodologies. (COM, CCT)
18.4 To identify common insect pests and their damage .	Have students collect and identify insect pests. Those that are fairly common include the following: aphids, birch leaf miner, cankerworm, sod web worm, white fly, fungus gnat, potato beetle, and cabbage butterfly.
18.5 To identify and control common landscape diseases and how they are controlled.	Caution students about the health risks that can result from careless handling of fungi and their spores. Have student collect and identify local fungi and compare their spread to bacterial diseases. Students can conduct research and report on the most serious virus, bacterial or fungal problem in horticultural crops in their area. Contact a chemical manufacturing company to determine its products that are useful for fungus control. Determine cultural and physical controls for fungal and bacterial problems.
18.6 To describe methods of pest control using organic control methods. (IL)	Have students create experiments to determine the effectiveness of organic controls. Several methods are available for students to investigate. These methods may include companion planting, organic soil additives, and natural compounds (rhubarb leaf extract).