Applied Entomology and Plant Pathology

12 CFU - 1° Semester

Teaching Staff

ROSA LA ROSA - Module Plant pathology - AGR/12 - 6 CFU
CARMELO RAPISARDA - Module ENTOMOLOGIA E PARASSITOLOGIA AGRARIA GENERALE - AGR/11 - 6 CFU

Learning Objectives

Plant pathology
The course aims to acquire the basic knowledge on the main agents responsible for the disease of plant alterations and commodities. The student will have to acquire skills in recognizing diseases and knowing how to regulate the causes that determined them. Finally, he will have to know the main methods and means of control.
ENTOMOLOGIA E PARASSITOLOGIA AGRARIA GENERALE
The course aims to provide students with the basic knowledge on morphology, biology and physiology of insects and other harmful animal organisms, with specific reference to the systematic groups of main applied interest, for which they will also have to develop basic skills in the evaluation of harmful effects on cultivated plants and their products and in the application of environmentally friendly means of control to reduce their infestations.

Course Structure

Plant pathology
The course will be provided by frontal lessons in the classroom (28 h) as weel as laboratory exercises (28 h); moreover, educational visits will take place at companies involved in different sectors of agro-food chains organized ad hoc during the reference semester.

If teaching is given in a mixed formula or remotely, necessary changes may be introduced to what was previously stated in order to comply with the provided and reported syllabus.

Learning assessment may be done remotely if necessary.
ENTOMOLOGIA E PARASSITOLOGIA AGRARIA GENERALE
The course is carried out through 35 hours of lectures (in class or remote) and 14 hours of exercises (where possible also in the field).

If teaching is given in a mixed formula or remotely, necessary changes may be introduced to what was previously stated in order to comply with the provided and reported syllabus.

Detailed Course Content

Plant pathology
The course provides students with the necessary tools to acquire basic knowledge on plant diseases caused by biotic and abiotic factors. The student will have to acquire the ability to recognize diseases, with particular attention to the symptoms found, and to be able to diagnose the causes that determined them. Finally, he will have to know the main sustainable control strategies for their containment
ENTOMOLOGIA E PARASSITOLOGIA AGRARIA GENERALE
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.

Biological behavior and relations with the environment (insect ecology).

1. Specific and collective manifestations: dimorphism and polymorphism; aggregation and society; biological cycles; biotic potential and environment; epidemiology of populations; biological balance; spread of species.

2. Damage to insects: direct and indirect damage; pathogens transmission; damage thresholds.

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
Thysanura
Odonata
Blattodea
Mantodea
Isoptera
Dermaptera
Orthoptera
Mallophaga
Anoplura
Thysanoptera
Hemiptera
Lacewing
Lepidoptera
Diptera
Aphaniptera
Coleoptera
Hymenoptera

Overview of other groups of animal organisms harmful to plants

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

Textbook Information

Plant pathology
The teacher will provide all necessary, also by STUDIUM platform, to study covered topics. The student can consult any of the text field, for the study of the discipline we recommend the following books:
- Book 1: Matta A., Buonaurio R., Favaron F., Scala A., Scala F. Fondamenti di Patologia vegetale ,2017. Patron Editore, 488 pp.
- Book 2: Belli G. Elementi di patologia vegetale. Piccin Editore, 475 pp.
- Teacher notes, papers and monographies
ENTOMOLOGIA E PARASSITOLOGIA AGRARIA GENERALE
1. BACCETTI B., BARBAGALLO S., SÜSS L. & TREMBLAY E., 2000. Manuale di Zoologia Agraria. Delfino Editore, Roma.

2. 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