Studying at the University of Verona
Here you can find information on the organisational aspects of the Programme, lecture timetables, learning activities and useful contact details for your time at the University, from enrolment to graduation.
Study Plan
The Study Plan includes all modules, teaching and learning activities that each student will need to undertake during their time at the University.
Please select your Study Plan based on your enrollment year.
1° Year
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One module to be chosen between the followingOne module to be chosen between the followingOne module to be chosen between the followingOne module to be chosen between the followingOne module to be chosen between the followingOne module to be chosen between the following2° Year It will be activated in the A.Y. 2026/2027
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One module to be chosen between the followingOne module to be chosen among the following| Modules | Credits | TAF | SSD |
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One module to be chosen between the followingOne module to be chosen between the followingOne module to be chosen between the followingOne module to be chosen between the followingOne module to be chosen between the followingOne module to be chosen between the following| Modules | Credits | TAF | SSD |
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One module to be chosen between the followingOne module to be chosen among the following| Modules | Credits | TAF | SSD |
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Two modules to be chosen among:
- 1st year - Microbial ecology, Genetics and biotechnology of no-food crops, Sustainable agriculture - delivered in 2025/2026
- 2nd year - Environmental microbiology and bioremediation, Sustainable phytopathogen management, Climate change and soil functions - delivered in 2026/2027Legend | Type of training activity (TTA)
TAF (Type of Educational Activity) All courses and activities are classified into different types of educational activities, indicated by a letter.
Genetics and biotechnology of no-food crops (2025/2026)
Teaching code
4S008296
Credits
6
Language
Italian
Scientific Disciplinary Sector (SSD)
AGR/07 - AGRICULTURAL GENETICS
Courses Single
Authorized with reserve
The teaching is organized as follows:
teoria
laboratorio
Learning objectives
Objective of the course is to provide to students the main knowledge concerning no-food crops for industrial production. A significant part of the course will concern breeding, highlighting both traditional and genetic engineering techniques and main goals associated to each no-food culture. In a following moment, the main industrial crops (e.g. cultures for production of oil, sugars, industrial compounds, etc.) will be considered, shedding light on their genetics and adaptability. The course will help students to acquire the required knowledge to develop no-food plant resources, considering the totality of the plant's potential.
Prerequisites and basic notions
Any preliminary notions will be covered by the teacher
Program
1. Introduction
1.1. Brief mention of the themes of circular economy and sustainable agriculture;
1.2. Differentiation between food and non-food agriculture; importance of non-food agriculture in the vision of sustainability;
1.3. Marginal lands, classification and importance for industrial crops;
2. Plant breeding
2.1. Definition of plant breeding. Breeding methodologies applied to plants - conventional approach, the role of in vitro cultures and mutagenesis. The advent of molecular markers and their application to breeding strategies. The study of natural populations - association mapping and the concept of linkage disequilibrium - (GWAS) applied to industrial plant species.
2.2. Biotechnology and breeding - consolidated methods (physical-chemical methods; biolistic method; transformation mediated by Rhizobium radiobacter) and new methods (genome editing).
2.3. General and specific targets of genetic improvement.
3. Non-food crops
For each category, examples of species of economic interest will be considered, providing information on the genetics of the plant, the varietal availability, the main aspects of genetic improvement and the progress of traditional and biotechnological breeding.
3.1. Crops for energy and biofuels: oil crops and sugar crops;
3.2. Fiber crops;
3.3. Short Rotation Forestry;
3.4. Plants as bioreactors: production of molecules and proteins of pharmaceutical and industrial interest.
* PRACTICAL LESSONS:
The course isa characterized by 12 hour in laboratory. The students will learn protocols ofr poplar breeding.
Didactic methods
a) The topics will be taught through classroom lectures;
b) Students will be offered recent thematic insights available in the literature;
c) The course will be held in person;
d) The course includes 12 hours of practical lessons;
Learning assessment procedures
The exam will be in written form (2h). The student will be given five questions that focus on the topics covered in class. Full freedom is given in structuring the answer, in choosing the examples to report and in the connections between different topics. The exam methods are not differentiated between attending and non-attending students.
Evaluation criteria
The evaluation will consider the aspects of
- completeness of content,
- competence in the use of specialised vocabulary,
- the student's ability to correlate and integrate the different topics studied.
Criteria for the composition of the final grade
The grade will be expressed in thirtieths (with honors in the case of a brilliant exam)
Exam language
Italiano o Inglese, a scelta dello studente
Sustainable Development Goals - SDGs
This initiative contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN Agenda 2030. More information on sustainability
