M.Sc. in Crop Protection 
(Conducted by the Faculty of Science in collaboration with the Faculty of Agriculture University of Ruhuna.)

M.Sc. Program in Crop Protection has been designed to help meet the island-wide demand for scientific expertise, in developing and applying appropriate crop protection practices to enhance crop production as well as crop quality. Curriculum of the course has been carefully formulated incorporating both pure and applied sciences envisaging a well-balanced course. The course also includes, various research methodology, practical exercises, and relevant excursions. The needs for in-depth training in one of the specializations are the parts of the program involving research leading to a thesis. Both fundamental and applied aspects of crop protection are focused on plant-insect, plant-pathogen and crop-weed relationships. Applied aspects elaborate the integrated management of pests, diseases and weeds with special emphasize on biological control methods. It includes

investigation on the population ecology of insects, nematodes, and weeds and the epidemiology of fungi, bacteria, and viruses and also the mechanisms of transmission. Moreover, modern technology, such as molecular based diagnosis, transgenics for disease resistance etc., are included in order to meet the growing demands for this technology. The overall objective of the course is to produce specialists in plant protection discipline who are geared to formulate and execute research on pest and disease management programs as well as to disseminate knowledge and experience. [top]

 The medium of the course is English. It is a full time course comprising two academic years. During the first year, the course will mainly consist of lectures, practicals, and excursions. During the second year, a considerable time will be spent on individual research, resulting in a thesis. The candidates are tested during and/or after each unit and are only allowed to proceed to the research project if their academic performance is satisfactory. During the first year, the course will mainly consist of lectures, practicals, and excursions. During the second year, a considerable time will be spent on individual research, resulting in a thesis. The candidates are tested during and/or after each unit and are only allowed to proceed to the research project if their academic performance is satisfactory. The M.Sc. degree is awarded on successful completion of;

• theory and practical courses
• research component.

Every application for enrolment must be made in duplicate on the prescribed forms obtained from the course coordinator on payment of a prescribed fee.The acceptance of the application will be determined on the basis of the particulars disclosed based on academic requirements.
(1). It is the responsibility of the applicant to send copies of transcripts directly to the course coordinator.
(2). Two letters of recommendation, at least one of which should be from an academic referee shall be sent to the course coordinator under confidential cover.
(3). Originals of all required certificates should be produced before admission.

Duly completed applications should be forwarded to the course coordinator. Applications which are incomplete or carrying false information will be rejected. The applicants will be informed of their acceptance/ non-acceptance in due course. Further information and application forms can be obtained by sending a self addressed envelop (9inch X 4inch) to the coordinator, MSc in Crop Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna, Mapalana, Kamburupitiya or downloading from this site.

For more details:-
Dr. K.L. Wasantha Kumara,
Co-ordinator,
M.Sc.in Crop Protection,
Faculty of Agriculture,
University of Ruhuna,
Mapalana, Sri Lanka.

Tel: 041-2292200, 071-8116968
E-mail-wasantha@agbio.ruh.ac.lk
Website – www.ruh.ac.lk

Who Can Participate

B.Sc. (Special) Degree in Botany/Zoology or Degree in Agriculture from a recognized University/institution or B.Sc. (General) Degree with Botany, Zoology and Chemistry as subjects from a recognized University/institution or any other equivalent qualification
acceptable to the Senate of the University of Ruhuna.
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Course Administration:-

Chairperson
- Prof. R Rajapakse
Course co-ordinator
- Dr.K.L. Wasantha Kumara

Scholarships:-

Not available at the moment

Course Structure:-

M.Sc. in Crop Protection is a two academic year course. Each academic year will comprise of two semesters. Each semester is 15 weeks long. Lectures and practicals will be held on Saturdays and Sundays from 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. Usually, for all lectures, practicals, and tutorials, 15-hrs work is considered as one credit. This norm may vary by ±5 lecture hours, as decided by the respective lecturers.
The relevant examinations shall be held at the end of each semester.

The course consists of 3 divisions as follows:
1. Course modules
2. Assignments
3. Research project
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There are 12 compulsory course modules listed as follows:

CP 1.0 Statistical methods and Design of experiments
CP 2.0 Plant Pathology
CP 3.0 Plant Virology
CP 4.0 Entomology
CP 5.0 Nematology
CP 6.0 Weed Science
CP 7.0 Integrated Pest, Vector and Disease Management
CP 8.0 Pesticide Pharmacology
CP 9.0 Biotechnology in Crop Protection
CP 10.0 Crop Plants and Environment
CP 11.0 Soil – Plant Relationships
CP 12.0 General Topics related to crop protection

CP 1.0 Statistical methods and Design of experiments

Basic concepts in statistics
Statistical Distributions
Designs
Factorial experiments
Analysis of variance (ANOVA)
Regression
Multivariate analysis
Practicals

CP 2.0 Plant Pathology

2.1 Ecological Plant Pathology

-Isolation, identification and preservation of pathogens
-Taxonomy of common fungal and bacterial pathogens and their life cycles
-Epidemiology of phytopathogens (spread and survival)
-Disease forecasting
-Economically important fungal and bacterial diseases in Sri Lanka
-Pathogenic soil-borne fungi
-Post harvest diseases

2.2 Plant-Pathogen interactions

- Physiological, biochemical and molecular-genetic aspects of interactions between host and pathogen
- Pathogenesis
- Effects of toxins, enzymes, plant growth hormones and other metabolites on the physiology of the host
- Molecular basis of defence responses
- Signal transduction mechanisms involved in plant disease resistance
- Local and systemic acquired resistance

2.3 Control of phytopathogens

- Biological control of soil-borne and aerial pathogens
- Cultural practices
- Breeding for resistance
- Plant quarantine

2.4 Practicals

The aim of the practical course is provide training in techniques and methods generally used in plant pathological research. At the end of the practical course a written report on the practical exercises has to be submitted to the course coordinator.

CP 3.0 Plant Virology

- Structure of plant viruses
- Symptomology
- Detection and diagnostic techniques
- Infection process
- Genetic properties of plant virus and viroids
- Transmission and spread in nature
- Measures to control plant virus diseases
- Economical important viral diseases in Sri Lanka
- Molecular Plant Virology
- Serology
- Theoretical aspects of uses of electron microscopy in virology
- Practicals 

CP 4.0 Entomology

- Classification
- Insect biology
- Insect physiology
- Insect behavior
- Insect ecology
- Insects pests of agricultural importance
- Insect plant interactions
- Insect-pest management in agriculture
- Economics, coast-benefit analysis
- Practicals

CP 5.0 Nematology

- Biology and taxonomy of nematodes
- Isolation and diagnosis
- Symptomology
- Distribution and host range
- Nematodes of economically important crops
- Management of plant parasitic nematodes
- Practicals

CP 6.0 Weed Science

- Origin, evolution and classification
- Characteristics of weeds
- Weeds and crop yields
- Eco-physiology of weed seeds
- Weed management in tropics
- Ecological genetics of weeds
- Aquatic weeds and management of water bodies
- Practicals

CP 7.0 Pesticide pharmacology

- Classification of agrochemicals
- Formulation
- Application
- Uptake and transport in plants and animals
- Resistance in target organisms
- Toxic action of various chemicals in insects, fungi, nematodes, and their modes of actions
- Specificity, selectivity and resistance development
- Toxicology and toxicity tests
- Adverse effects of pesticides on environment and non-target organisms
- Practicals

CP 8.0 Biotechnology in crop protection

- Basic molecular biology and tools in genetic engineering
- Potential of molecular biology, genetics and immunology for crop protection
- Potential and novel technologies and approaches for crop protection in future
- Genetic manipulation and plant gene transformation
- Basic tissue culture techniques for selections
- Gene cloning for disease resistance
- Outline appropriate strategies for the engineering of pest, disease and herbicide resistance into plants
- Practicals

CP 9.0 Integrated pest, disease and vector management in tropics

- Basic concepts in integrated management practices
- Pest and disease development and effects of various management strategieson functioning of agro-ecosystems
- Competitive exclusion, eradication, immunization, cultural practices etc
- Monitoring techniques, sampling methods and advisory systems
- Design an integrated management system for a selected agro-ecosystem
- IPM concept: extension effort in practice

CP 10.0 Crop Plants and Environment

- Distribution of crop plants in the world and in Sri Lanka: historical survey
- Introduction to the important morphological and anatomical features of major crop plants in the world with special reference to those in Sri Lanka
- Importance of the local crop plants in the past, present and future with reference to the economy of Sri Lanka future projections on their    mportance   in the economy
- Proposed new crop plants in the world and Sri Lanka
- Environmental and other ecological parameters vital for sustainable management of economic crops in Sri Lanka
- Global environmental changes and their predicted influences on crop plants
- Practicals 

CP 11.0 Soil – Plant relationships

- Soil profile
- Soil composition
- Soil formation
- Soil physical properties
- Soil chemical properties
- Classification of soil
- Soils of Sri Lanka
- Agricultural importance of soil
- Soil erosion
- Edaphic factors which cause diseases on plants
- Practicals

CP 12.0 General topics related to crop protection

- Breeding for disease resistance and tolerance
- Management of farming systems
- Crop protection and society
- Taxonomy of crop plants
- Etc.

A thesis in any one of the following disciplines:(Pathology/ Entomology/ Nematology/ Weed Science/ Virology) shall be presented for evaluation after carrying out a research project in the relevant field and the duration of the project must be not less than two  semesters. The research project shall be carried out under the supervision of a member of the academic staff after successful completion of the first year. When the principal 
supervisor is not from the University of Ruhuna, in addition to the principle supervisor, a supervisor should be named from the University of Ruhuna. When the research is carried out in an institution out side the University of Ruhuna, at least one supervisor should be from that institution. The thesis should be handed over to the SAR/examinations at the end  of the course, on a date specified by the course coordinator, and it will be evaluated at a thesis defense examination consisting of a panel of a jury appointed by the controlling body.

Project Thesis:
The research report/thesis shall consist of the candidate’s own account of his/her research. It must form a distinct, original contribution to knowledge based on research conducted by the candidate. The detailed information on the format of the thesis can be obtained from 
the examination branch of the university.
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Conditions for the M.Sc. Degree:-

The total marks for the M.Sc. in Crop Protection will be 1,000, and allocated as follows;

Division	Marks
1. Course Modules(Theory, practical examinations and tutorials etc)	600
2. Assignments 2.1 Literature Retrieval & Scientific Report Writing 2.2 Seminars 2.3 Analysis of a problem in Crop Protection	100 (25) (50) (25)
3. Research project	300
Total	1000

 

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(A)Every application for enrolment must be made in duplicate on the prescribed forms obtained from the course coordinator on payment of a prescribed fee.
(B) The acceptance of the application will be determined on the basis of the particulars disclosed. Note:

The selection shall be based on academic merit and performance at an interview conducted by a selection committee appointed by the controlling body.  The course coordinator shall refer the selected applications to the Faculty Board and to the Senate for recommendation and approval respectively.

Registration Procedure:
1. Date of Registration
A person who is selected as a candidate for the M.Sc. degree has to register at the university for the current academic year.   The     date of registration shall be specified by the Faculty Board upon request by the course coordinator.

2. Concurrent Registration
A student who is registered for a degree at the University of Ruhuna or at any another university/institution is not permitted to register concurrently for the M.Sc. course.

3. Postponement of Registration
Postponement of registration will not be allowed.

4. Cancellation of Registration
A registration may be cancelled by the university on the recommendation of the controlling body for reasons such as: inadequate academic progress, non-submission of project reports on due dates, violation of rules and regulations of the university and failure to pay  prescribed fees etc.

5. Leave or Absence from the Program
Request for leave or absence from the program will not be granted under normal circumstances. However, a postponement of the date of commencement of the research project may be granted under special circumstances on a written request made by a candidate.

6. Withdrawal from the Program
A student who wishes to withdraw from the course should make a written request to the course coordinator. In case of such withdrawals, adjustments of fees and refunds,  if any will be made in accordance with the recommendations by the controlling body.
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