GENERAL PLANT PATHOLOGY AND ENTOMOLOGY

Integrated educational activity

Course Sheet

Academic Year of enrolment:

2020/2021

Optional/Mandatory:

Compulsory

Degree:

Bachelor's Degree Programme in AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGIES

Language:

Italian

Moduls:

ENTOMOLOGIA AGRARIA GENERALE

4 credits
PATOLOGIA VEGETALE GENERALE

4 credits

Credits:

Programme Year:

Hours of classroom activity:

Prerequisites:

Recommended prerequisites: despite no formal prerequisites are required, students are advised to acquire credits relative to agronomy, herbaceous and tree crops and basic microbiology before attending Plant Pathology.

AF code:

A000528

Assessment Methods

Verification of learning:

Assessment methods and criteria: Classroom tests and essay to assess student progress toward specific learning goals during the programme; final oral examination

Teaching period

First semester

Objectives

The plant pathology module aims to introduce students to the relevance of plant pathology and the impact of plant diseases on the society, on human and animal health and on the environment. The course will include lectures and practical training. The students will acquire knowledge on the following: disease concept, damage threshold, symptoms, diagnostic techniques, infection mechanisms, plant defense and resistance mechanisms, influence of the environmental factors, epidemiology, and control of plant pathogens. To illustrate the above-mentioned topics, case studies based on the main phytopathological disorders will be illustrated, including those caused by abiotic factors, fungi, prokaryotes and viruses.
The general agricultural entomology module provides students with general knowledge on morphology, anatomy and physiology of insects as well as on their biological cycles and population dynamics aimed, on the identification of the main groups and species harmful to agricultural crops and on the application of the most appropriate control methods.

Contents

PLANT PATHOLOGY MODULE
Impact of plant diseases on the society, on human and animal health, on the environment. Symptomatology; diagnostic metods and tools. Infection process: recognition, penetration, colonisation. Plant resistance to pathogens: mechanisms and examples; basic concepts of physiopathology. Fundamentals of epidemiology and forecasting models; plant pathogen dispersal and survival; assessment of economic damage caused by plant diseases. Principles of plant disease management; evolution of plant protection approaches; agronomical, physical, chemical and biological plant protection methods; quarantine pathogens and quarantine measures; main classes of fungicides and their mechanism of action; fungicide resistance, mechanisms and prevention strategies; formulation of plant disease control means; factors influencing the efficacy of treatments; biological control: antagonists and their mechanism of action; R&D of biological control agents: from lab to field.

GENERAL AGRICULTURAL ENTOMOLOGY MODULE
The Insects: origin, general organization and relationships with other Arthropods, the main orders of insects.
Morphology (integument and endoskeleton, head-capsule, thorax, abdomen, mouthparts, appendages). The mouthparts and their modifications in the different orders. The thorax and its appendages. The adaptive modifications of the legs and the wings. The abdomen and its appendages and processes. External genitalia.
Anatomy (muscular system, nervous system, sense organs, alimentary canal, circulatory system, respiratory system, excretory organs, organs of secretion, reproductive system. Embryogenesis. Postembryonic development. Metamorphosis types. Larval and pupal types. The adult insect (sexual dimorphism, polymorphism, gynandromorphism, light and sound production). Insect aggregation. Social insects.
Life cycles, biotic potential and environment. Insect populations: numerical changes, influence of abiotic and biotic factors on insect population abundance. Principles and methods of pest management.

Recommended Bibliography

• Belli G, Assante G., Bianco P.A., Casati P, Cortesi P, Faoro F, Farina G, Iriti M, Moretti M, Saracchi M, Sardi P, Vercesi A. 2012. Elementi di Patologia vegetale. pp 473. PICCIN S.p.A. PD.
• Matta a, Luisoni e, Surico G. 2007. Fondamenti di Patologia vegetale. pp 494. PATRON Edit., BO.
• Giunchedi, Conti, Gallitelli, Martelli. 2007. Elementi di virologia vegetale". PICCIN S.p.A. PD.
• Agrios G.N., 2005. PLANT PATHOLOGY, Fifth Edition.. Elsevier Academic Press, 84 Theobald’s Road, London, UK.pp 922.
• Fiori G., Bin F., Sensidoni A., 1983 - Atlante entomologico. Galeno Editrice, Perugina.
• Masutti L., Zangheri S., 2001 – Entomologia generale e applicata, Edizioni Cedam – Padova.
• Tremblay E., 1990 - Entomologia applicata, vol. I, Liguori Editore – Napoli.

Methods of Provision

Conventional

Teaching Methods

Mode of delivery: Face to face lectures, tutorials and laboratory, seminars. Beside face to face lectures and seminars, laboratory and field activities shall include the following topics: examination of plant and microbial specimen; isolation procedures and tools; identification of symptoms and colony morphology; traditional and advanced (DNA-based and serological) tools for plant disease diagnosis; chemical and biological control assays against selected pathogens; evaluation of selected commercial fungicide formulations and packaging. For the entomology module time will be dedicated to the observation of insect collections to study their morphological features and for their identification, in addition to mouth parts dissection and observation under a microscope.

Contacts/More Information

Complementary teaching in English, French or Spanish upon request. Exchange students are allowed to take their oral exam in English, French, or Spanish.

GENERAL PLANT PATHOLOGY AND ENTOMOLOGY

Course year: 1

Course year: 2

Course year: 3

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GENERAL PLANT PATHOLOGY AND ENTOMOLOGY