A project-based course at Huazhong Agricultural University (HZAU) has moved plant protection teaching from the classroom to farmland, helping sophomores connect plant vaccine theory with real agricultural production.

The course, taught by Xie Jiatao and Jiang Daohong's team from the College of Plant Science & Technology, recently concluded at HZAU's Xiangyang-based practice site. Students experienced a full crop growth cycle, from sowing rapeseed and wheat to disease surveys, sample collection and field assessment of plant vaccine effects.

Xie said many students study in cities and remain distant from farms, making it difficult to understand crop conditions in real fields. Immersive practice, he said, offers teaching advantages that on-campus laboratories cannot provide. The course also responds to the need for food security and greener plant disease control.

In the field, students identified wheat stripe rust and rapeseed sclerotinia, learned biological control theory and practiced isolating and identifying crop endophytes.

Huang Yuchen from Plant Protection Class 2401 said the work helped her link laboratory cultures with field disease. Ding Zhicheng from Agronomy Class 2402 said research thinking became concrete only after he tried, made mistakes, and improved through practice.

Xie said the goal of project-based teaching is to let students use their hands, minds and emotions in real research settings and build the ability to solve complex agricultural problems.

Teachers and students observe leaf rust in a wheat field. [Photo/new.hzau.edu.cn]

Jiang Daohong introduces the project-based course. [Photo/new.hzau.edu.cn]

Xie Jiatao explains plant disease mechanisms in the field. [Photo/new.hzau.edu.cn]