Teaching code

4S008199

Credits

6

Coordinatore

Annalisa Polverari

Language

Italian

Scientific Disciplinary Sector (SSD)

AGR/12 - PLANT PATHOLOGY

Moodle Seminars

The teaching is organized as follows:

Learning outcomes

The student will acquire a basic knowledge of major plant pathogens and pests and of their consequences on crop production and human health, and will develop a comprehensive understanding of plant disease control measures and their environmental impact. Topics will include: Description of some examples of economically relevant plant pathogens and pests, with their life cycle, and epidemiology. Low-impact measures for plant disease control; Integrated Pest Management; mathematical models for disease forecast. Biocontrol agents: mechanisms of action; applicability; specific examples; legislation. Post-harvest disease control of fruit and vegetables: post-harvest contaminations; mycotoxins; monitoring of pesticide residues; legislation. Crops as alternative hosts for human pathogens: colonization, multiplication and persistence in plants; risks of pathogenic contaminants in organic farming.

Program

------------------------ MM: Teoria ------------------------ General framework related to sustainability in agriculture Introduction to plant pathology, scientific interest, economic importance and environmental impact of plant diseases. Phytopathological terminology: concepts of disease, host and pathogen, infection, symptoms and signs, local and systemic. Susceptibility, resistance, tolerance. Nutritional relationships: saprophytes, parasites, (obligate and optional) symbionts. Presentation of the main classes of plant pathogens. Basics of epidemiology (conditions predisposing to the disease) Disease cycle: contagion, penetration, latency phase, colonization, incubation period, sporulation, diffusion, conservation of the inoculum. > Phytopathogenic fungi: General features of phytopathogenic fungi. Examples of important plant pathogens: downy mildews, rusts, powdery mildews; agents of rotting and necrosis of herbaceous and tree crops; mycotoxin-producing fungal pathogens. > Prokaryotic pathogens: General characteristics of phytopathogenic bacteria: infectious process, symptoms, examples of important phytopathogenic bacteria; emerging phytosanitary problems. General characteristics of phytoplasmas; infectious process, symptomatology, epidemiology; emerging phytosanitary problems. > Virus and viroid diseases General characteristics of the virus, structure and composition, penetration, replication, translocation, symptoms. Spread in nature: transmission by contact, by plant parts, transmission by vectors. Examples of viral diseases of some important crops; prevention and defense. > Viroid diseases: hints of transmission and replication. Diagnostics: Classical, biochemical, serological and molecular techniques. Use of indicator species for the diagnosis of virosis. Sustainable plant protection strategies: Agronomic means of disease prevention, characteristics of the agricultural ecosystem and ecosystem services. Integrated pest management and chemical disease control: European legislation, registration and use of plant protection products. Maximum residue limits and monitoring of pesticide residues in foodstuffs. Biological control: biocontrol agents; mechanisms of antagonism. Limits and potential of biological control. Practical applications. The search for alternative substances and formulations with low environmental impact. Basics of breeding for disease resistance. Epidemiology: examples of mathematical models for the prediction of plant disease epidemics. ------------------------ MM: Laboratorio ------------------------ Isolation in pure culture of fungal and bacterial pathogens Satisfaction of Kock's postulates Morphological identification of phytopathogenic fungi Observation of vegetative and reproductive fungal structures ELISA test for the detection of viral pathogens Molecular diagnostic tests

Bibliography

Examination Methods

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MM: Teoria
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Oral evaluation
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MM: Laboratorio
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Oral