ARTHROPOD PEST MANAGEMENT IN MEDITERRANEAN CROPS

12 CFU - 1° semestre

Docenti titolari dell'insegnamento

GAETANO SISCARO - Modulo BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF ARTHROPOD PESTS - AGR/11 - 6 CFU
ANTONIO BIONDI - Modulo INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT OF ARTHROPOD PESTS - AGR/11 - 6 CFU

Obiettivi formativi

BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF ARTHROPOD PESTS
The course aims to provide general knowledge on biocenotic interactions of animal species in natural and agricultural ecosystems as well as on the main biocontrol agents of plant pests; moreover the course provides theoretical and practical concepts on natural enemies rearing as well as on their field application strategies.
INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT OF ARTHROPOD PESTS
The course aims at providing advanced knowledge on the ecological role and harmfulness of key insect pests of the major Mediterranean crops. The main sustainable integrated management strategies specific for each key insect pest of the Mediterranean environment are also provided.

Students will be able to recognize the key insect pest and their damage, as well as to develop specific integrated and sustainable control strategies against them.

Modalità di svolgimento dell'insegnamento

BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF ARTHROPOD PESTS
The didactic objectives will be achieved through classes conducted with digital didactic aids and laboratory trainings. The laboratory activities focus on topics covered in theoretical lessons and on the analysis of case studies. In addition, technical field visits of multidisciplinary interest will be organized. The course is delivered by a 50% of classes and a 50% of laboratory and field training.
INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT OF ARTHROPOD PESTS
The course will be delivered by a 50% of lectures and a 50% of laboratory group activities, bibliographic searches, scientific paper discussions, seminars and technical field visits.

Prerequisiti richiesti

BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF ARTHROPOD PESTS
Basic knowledge on Entomology and Agricultural Zoology
INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT OF ARTHROPOD PESTS
General and applied Entomology, Agronomy, Basic knowledge on pesticide toxicology and applications

Frequenza lezioni

BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF ARTHROPOD PESTS
Attendance is not compulsory to hold exams, but it is strongly recommended to attend at least the 70% of the didactic activities.
INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT OF ARTHROPOD PESTS
Not compulsory, but highly recommended.

Contenuti del corso

BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF ARTHROPOD PESTS
1. Concepts on the population dynamics of arthropod pests and their natural enemies in natural and agricultural ecosystems
2. Identification and biology of the major groups of entomophagous arthropods and entomopathogenic agents
3. Rearing techniques of entomophagous arthropods and their application in crop protection
4. Microbiological control: application of viruses, bacteria, fungi and entomopathogenic nematodes
5. Autocidal control: sterile insect technique (SIT), insect chemo-sterilizers
6. Basic principles of agro-ecology: ecological infrastructures; habitat management for enhancing the functional biodiversity in agroecosystems
7. Natural control and biological control strategies in the main agro-ecosystems: citrus orchard, vineyard, olive grove, fruit trees, open field and protected vegetables
INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT OF ARTHROPOD PESTS
Concepts and applications of specific integrated pest management strategies, with focus on the control of key arthropod pests of the main Mediterranean agro-ecosystems, such as: (1) Citrus; (2) Olive; (3) Grape; (4) Pome and stone fruits; (5) Protected vegetables; (6) Open field vegetables and arable crops. Moreover, (7) a part of the course will be focused on exotic invasive insect pests at high risk of introduction, and on (8) pesticide (eco)toxicology.

Testi di riferimento

BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF ARTHROPOD PESTS
1. BELLOWS T.S. & FISHER T.W. (Ed.), 1999. Handbook of biological control: principles and applications of biological control. Academic Press (978-0-12-257305-7)

2. COPPING L.G. (Ed.) 2011. The manual of biocontrol agents: a world compendium. 4th Edition. BCPC Publ. (British Crop Production Council (978-1-901396-17-1)

3. FLINT M.L. & DREISTADT S.H., 1998. Natural enemies handbook: the illustrated guide to biological pest control. Univ. Calif. Div. Agric. Nat. Res. Publ.3386, University of California Press (978-1-879906-41-9)

4. HELYER N., BROWN K., CATTLIN N.D., 2014. Biological control in plant protection: a colour handbook, Second Edition CRC Press (978-1-84076-117-7)
INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT OF ARTHROPOD PESTS
1. Alford D V (2013) Pests of Fruit Crops: A Colour Handbook. CRC Press

2. Bostanian NJ, Vincent C, Isaacs R (2012) Arthropod Management in Vineyards: Pests, Approaches, and Future Directions. Springer Science & Business Media.

3. Ciancio A, Mukerji KG (2010) Integrated management of arthropod pests and insect borne diseases. Springer Science & Business Media.

4. Hulme PE (2009) Handbook of alien species in Europe (Vol. 569). Dordrecht, The Netherlands: Springer.

5. Kogan M, Jepson PC (2007) Perspectives in ecological theory and integrated pest management. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

6. Radcliffe EB, Hutchison WD, Cancelado RE (2009) Integrated pest management: concepts, tactics, strategies and case studies. Cambridge University Press.

Altro materiale didattico

BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF ARTHROPOD PESTS
Teacher provides the didactic material on the STUDIUM website. The presentations used during the lessons will be provided, as well as scientific and / or technical publications on specific subjects.
INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT OF ARTHROPOD PESTS
All the slides used during lectures, as well as any additional document will be provided by the teacher through the "Studium" web system.

Programmazione del corso

BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF ARTHROPOD PESTS
	Argomenti	Riferimenti testi
1	Concepts on the population dynamics of arthropod pests and their natural enemies in natural and agricultural ecosystems	1, Didactic material provided on STUDIUM website
2	Recognition and biology of the major groups of entomophagous arthropods and entomopathogenic agents	2, 3, 4, Didactic material provided on STUDIUM website
3	Rearing techniques of entomophagous arthropods and their application in crop protection	1, Didactic material provided on STUDIUM website
4	Microbiological control: application of viruses, bacteria, fungi and entomopathogenic nematodes	1, Didactic material provided on STUDIUM website
5	Autocidal control: sterile insect technique (SIT), insect chemo-sterilizers	1, Didactic material provided on STUDIUM website
6	Basic principles of agro-ecology: ecological infrastructures; habitat management for enhancing the functional biodiversity in agroecosystems	1, Didactic material provided on STUDIUM website
7	Natural control and biological control strategies in the main agro-ecosystems: citrus orchard, vineyard, olive grove, fruit trees, open field and protected vegetables	1, 3, 4, Didactic material provided on STUDIUM website
INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT OF ARTHROPOD PESTS
	Argomenti	Riferimenti testi
1	Citrus	1, 3, 5, 6, Didactic material provided on Studium
2	Olive	1, 5, 6, Didactic material provided on Studium
3	Grape	1, 2, 5, 6, Didactic material provided on Studium
4	Pome and stone fruits	1, 5, 6, Didactic material provided on Studium
5	Protected vegetables	1, 5, 6, Didactic material provided on Studium
6	Open field vegetables and arable crops	1, 5, 6, Didactic material provided on Studium
7	Exotic invasive insect pests	1, 4, 6, Didactic material provided on Studium
8	Insecticide (eco)toxicology	5, 6, Didactic material provided on STUDIUM

Verifica dell'apprendimento

MODALITÀ DI VERIFICA DELL'APPRENDIMENTO

BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF ARTHROPOD PESTS
The learnig assessment is arranged in two parts: an exam during the class period and another one after the class end. As for the first one, a single student or a small group of students will give a presentation in English on a topic previously selected in agreement with the professor. The final exam consists of an individual oral interview where the specific knowledge and skills gained by students will be evaluated. In addition, students must demonstrate the ability to correlate the topics of the two modules of the integrated course.
INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT OF ARTHROPOD PESTS
The exam is composed by two main steps: an exam during the class period and another after the class end. The first is represented by a talk given in English, by a single student or by a small group of students, on a selected topic previously agreed with the professor. The final exam is an individual oral interview in which the student will discuss (i) about one of the scientific paper chosen by the student among those discussed during classes, (ii) about the integrated insect pest control strategies in an agroecosystem selected by the student, and then (iii) reply to two specific questions asked by the professor.

ESEMPI DI DOMANDE E/O ESERCIZI FREQUENTI

BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF ARTHROPOD PESTS
- Describe the main factors affecting the population dynamics of phytophagous arthropods in agro-ecosystems
- Describe the main morfological and biological traits of Coccinellidae
- Describe the morphological, biological and technical features of the imenopteran parasitoid Aphytis melinus and mirid predator Nesidiocoris tenuis
- Describe the main rearing methods of the main entomophages used in crop protection
- Describe the main available microbiological control agents and applications in Mediterranean agrosystems
- Describe examples of habitat management applications
- Describe organic control strategies in citrus and vineyards
INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT OF ARTHROPOD PESTS
(i) Select and describe the state of the art, the aim, the main methods and results, as well as the conclusions of one of the scientific papers discussed during classes.

(ii) Select and describe the biology, ecology and integrated pest control strategies implemented against the key pests of one of the agro-ecosystems discussed during classes.

(iiia) Describe the biology, ecology and integrated pest control strategies implemented against the key pests of citrus.

(iiib) Describe the biology, ecology and integrated pest control strategies implemented against key leafminer pests

(iiia) Describe the biology, ecology and integrated pest control strategies implemented against the key pests of fruit crops.

(iiib) Describe the biology, ecology and integrated pest control strategies implemented against key scale insect pests.

(iiia) Describe the biology, ecology and integrated pest control strategies implemented against the key pests of protected vegetable crops.

(iiib) Describe the biology, ecology and integrated pest control strategies implemented against key aphid pests.

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