BASIS syllabusReal IPM offer two BASIS courses: vegetables and floriculture. The syllabus is similar in outline but includes different crop examples as appropriate for relevant crop examples. Learning pack 1Pesticide legislationScope and obligations of major pesticide-related legislation; codes of practice; Acts and regulations; pesticide labels, off labels and approvals; occupational exposure limits and MRLs; pesticides and water; legislation on biological control. Learning pack 2Introduction to pesticidesClassification of crop protection materials; modes of action of agrochemicals; chemical groups within insecticides, fungicides & herbicides; growth regulators, bio-pesticides and adjuvants; harvest intervals and maximum residue levels; resistance management. Learning pack 3Recognition and biology of weedsWeed botany and identification; weed biology; horticultural significance of weeds; legislation on herbicides and noxious weeds. Chemical weed control; modes of action; types of herbicides; herbicide damage and resistance; cultural, physical and biological control of weeds. Learning pack 5Thrips and leafminerPest life cycles and identification; symptoms of pest damage; chemical and biological controls, horticultural significance of pest, cultural and physical pest controls. Learning pack 6Sap-sucking pests: whitefly, aphids, capsids, mealybugs etc.Leaf feeding pests: caterpillars, flea beetles, etc Learning pack 9Disease identification and controlsDisease life cycles and identification; symptoms of disease damage, chemical control; horticultural significance of diseases; cultural and physical disease controls; biological control of diseases (powdery mildews, rusts, botrytis blights, leaf spots, blights & cankers, root & crown-rotting diseases, wilts, bacterial diseases, MLOs, viruses). Learning pack 10Integrated control of diseasesIPM of diseases; legislation on notifiable diseases. Learning pack 11Other causes of ‘disease’ symptomsAgronomic factors, environmental stress and mineral nutrition disorders. Learning pack 12Pesticide formulationsAgrochemical terminology; types of formulation - function and limitations;
significance of formulation (application equipment); environmental influences on efficacy and persistence of agrochemicals; practical problems of precise placement. Learning pack 13AdjuvantsRole and function of adjuvants; droplet size and adjuvants. Learning pack 14Application of crop protection chemicalsTypes of application treatments; application vehicles and equipment; how plant surfaces affect distribution & retention; hydraulic circuitry and nozzle types; ULV and controlled droplet application. Learning pack 15Safe use, handling, transport and storage of crop protection chemicalsRoutes of pesticide entry into human body, poisons terminology; significance of application techniques in poisoning risks; toxicity of anti-cholinesterase; reasons for controlled access to chemical stores; factors which affect pesticide residues; pesticides and the environment; importance of choice of chemical and application method - pollution & residues; transport of chemicals; pesticide store specifications. Learning pack 16Vegetables course: potatos and crop specificsAspects on specific crops are reviewed and points brought together from different learning packs. Potato is particularly important, as this crop is part of BASIS vegetables, but not grown in Kenya for export, therefore few have experience of it. (seems rather specific to Kenya as a comment, as we are addressing all Africa and beyond…. How about ‘in sub-Saharan and Caribbean regions’) Floriculture: crop specificsThe floriculture course covers roses, carnations, chrysanthemums, lilies, astromeria, narcissus, tulips and flowering pot-plants (poinsettias and chrysanthemums). This learning pack covers an outline of pest and disease problems in these crops. Learning pack 17Integrated crop managementA summary of the main points covered in the LEAF (Linking Environment and Farming) handbook for Integrated Farm Management.
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