FISIOPATOLOGIA VEGETALE ARTROPODI E BIOTECNOLOGIE

12 CFU - 1° Semester

Teaching Staff

VITTORIA CATARA - Module FISIOPATOLOGIA VEGETALE - AGR/12 - 6 CFU
CARMELO RAPISARDA - Module ARTROPODI E BIOTECNOLOGIE - AGR/11 - 6 CFU

Learning Objectives

FISIOPATOLOGIA VEGETALE
To train the student on the physiological and molecular mechanisms that underlie the processes of interaction between plants and plant pathogens and the environment to provide the scientific basis for planning biotechnological interventions for the study of interactions and crop protection.
ARTROPODI E BIOTECNOLOGIE
The course aims to stimulate the student's interest on the main morphological, biological and physiological characteristics of arthropods. The student will be able to use this basic knowledge to fully understand how biotechnologies can be applied to protect agricultural and food productions from harmful arthropods, to the study of arthropod-plant-micro-organism relationships, to investigations on environment, biodiversity, human and animal health, as well as to the choice of eco-compatible control strategies of infestations.

Course Structure

FISIOPATOLOGIA VEGETALE
Frontal lectures and working groups
ARTROPODI E BIOTECNOLOGIE
The course is carried out through theoretical lectures.

Detailed Course Content

FISIOPATOLOGIA VEGETALE
Fundamentals of plant pathology: introduction to plant pathology, abiotic and biotic plant pathogens (fungi, oomycetes, bacteria, viruses), diseases development, elements of epidemiology, mechanisms of host-pathogen interaction, mechanisms of action of pathogens, mechanisms of plant resistance, principles of defense against diseases. Case studies.
ARTROPODI E BIOTECNOLOGIE
Morphology, anatomy and physiology of insects

1. General characteristics of insects and their applied interest.
2. External morphology: head, thorax, abdomen and their appendages.
3. Elements of anatomy and physiology of insects: tegumental system; nervous system; sensory system; digestive system; respiratory system; circulatory system; excretory system; secretory system; reproductive system; postembryonic development; physiology of metamorphosis.

Means and methods of control of insects

1. Agronomic or cultural means.
2. Physical and mechanical means.
3. Biological control: entomophagous and entomopathogenic; classical biological control techniques; microbiological control; biotechnologies.
4. Chemical control: insecticides and their mode of action; commercial formulations and active ingredients; secondary effects of antiparasitic treatments.
5. Principles of supervised and integrated control.

Notions of entomological systematics and knowledge of the main orders of Insects

Collembola
Blattodea
Orthoptera
Thysanoptera
Hemiptera
Lepidoptera
Diptera
Coleoptera
Hymenoptera

Overview of other Arthropods of economic importance

1. Mites: systematic classification, morphology, anatomy and biology; damage and economic importance; control methods.

Textbook Information

FISIOPATOLOGIA VEGETALE
1. Matta A., Buonaurio R., Favaron F., Scala A., Scala F. 2017. Fondamenti di patologia vegetale (2aedizione), 490 pp. Patron editore ISBN 9788855533829 (Testo principale)

2. Belli G. (2012) Elementi di Patologia Vegetale. Piccin Nuova Libraria, Padova. 2nda edizione 454 pp.
ARTROPODI E BIOTECNOLOGIE
BACCETTI B., BARBAGALLO S., SÜSS L. & TREMBLAY E., 2000. Manuale di Zoologia Agraria. Delfino Editore, Roma.

TREMBLAY E., 1985-2000. Entomologia applicata, voll. 1-7. Liguori Editore, Napoli.

All the slides projected in class, as well as additional didactic notes and eventual bibliographic material for further information, will be provided by the teacher through the "Studium" web platform.

Open in PDF format Versione in italiano