The course aims to provide basic knowledge on biotic and abiotic diseases of plants used for ornamental, landscaping, and green areas, with particular reference to fungi, oomycetes, bacteria and abiotic stresses. The student will know the morphology, biology, pathogenesis, etiology, and epidemiology of the major disease agents of crop, forest, and ornamental plants. At the end of the course, the student will have acquired diagnostic skills, will be able to evaluate the phytosanitary importance of the main plant disease agents and will have the basic knowledge to define eco-sustainable strategies for the containment of infections in natural and anthropogenic environments.
Applied knowledge and understanding skills
- Ability to propose phytopathological diagnosis
- Ability to plan control measures in the field of agricultural , forestry and ornamentals .
- Ability to use the cognitive tools and logical elements offered by the course that allow him/her to continuously update knowledge related to Plant and Forest Pathology.
Autonomy of judgment
The student must be able to independently evaluate diagnostic methods for the identification of causative agents of diseases; to propose interventions to prevent, control and establish an environmentally friendly production system. The necessary tools will be provided to enable students to independently analyze, and perform the analysis in the field and laboratory.
Communication skills.
- Acquisition of appropriate language to the discipline,
- Ability to express clearly and concisely course content , using specific terminology
The didactic objectives will be achieved through frontal theoretical lectures (4CFU=28 hours) wich will be held using Powerpoint support. Specific sites will be consulted favoring interaction with students. The laboratory activities focus on topics covered in theoretical lessons.Technical field visits of multidisciplinary interest will be organizedto promote students' learning and increase their practical knowledge on the main plant pathogens.
In addition, it will be proposed that students prepare a paper on a monographic topic, chosen together with the professor, which is then to be presented at the end of the course after preparing a power point. This will enable students to acquire a range of knowledge related to the following aspects: a) carrying out a bibliographic research by consulting articles and websites on the chosen topic, taking care to select the most reliable sources; b) preparing a paper on the basis of a well-charted scheme; c) setting up a power point by choosing appropriate images and structuring the slides appropriately; d) exposing in public by answering the lecturer's questions.
Information for students with disabilities and / or DSA
To guarantee equal opportunities and in compliance with the current laws, interested students can ask for a personal interview in order to plan any compensatory and / or dispensatory measures, based on their specific needs and on teaching objectives of the discipline. It is also possible to ask the departmental contacts of CInAP (Center for Active and Participatory Integration - Services for Disabilities and/or DSAs), in the persons of professors Giovanna Tropea Garzia and Anna De Angelis.
Basic knowledge about plant cell : structure and function (important)
Basic knowledge about general botany (important)
Basic knowledge about plant physiology (useful)
Attendance is not compulsory but in order to take the exam, it is strongly recommended to attend at least 70% of the scheduled teaching activities.
Methods of establishing attendance.- Each professor shall establish a method for ascertaining attendance in the course and, at the end of the course, shall notify the Student Secretary of the list of students who have not met the attendance requirement.
The course will provide basic knowledge regarding biotic and abiotic origin disorders in plants. Major disease agents will be characterized according to their morphology, biology, pathogenesis, etiology and epidemiology. Special attention will be given to pathogen diagnosis on traditional and molecular basis and eco-friendly defense strategies.
General concepts of Plant pathology. Main agents of plants diseases and their interactions with plants for the environment. Major diseases of ornamental plants and Mediterranean scrub. The concept and types of diagnosis Principles of plant disease control; Principles of plant health legislation. Forest ecosystem and urban forest concept; characteristics of urban environment . aspects and peculiarities and of nursery cultivation. Study of the main diseases of ornamental and forest plants.
Laboratory: recognition of symptoms of major diseases of ornamental and forest plants. Recognition,of reproductive structures of the main plant pathogens; Isolation methods of some causative agents responsible for serious diseases of the forest and ornamental sectors and their morphological and molecular characterization.
Field trips. Monographic seminars on topics, related to the program, held by experts in the field. Reference databases, reference texts and scientific periodical consultation, phytopathological websites.
1) Belli G. -.Elementi di Patologia Vegetale (seconda edizione, 2012), Editore Piccin, Padova
2) George N. Agrios – Plant Pathology – Academic. Press. Inc., San Diego, California (VI edizione).
3) Alberto Panconesi, Salvatore Moricca, Alessandro Ragazzi. Parassiti delle piante arboree forestali ed ornamentali. Specie introdotte e di temuta introduzione. Patron editore, 2014
4) P. Capretti e A Ragazzi- Elementi di Patologia Forestale – Patron Editore Bologna
5) A.Garibaldi, M.L.Gullino, V.Lisa - Malattie delle piante ornamentali- Calderini Edagricole
6) F.Moriondo – Introduzione alla patologia forestale- seconda edizione. Utet, Torino
7) N. Anselmi, G. Govi , 1996, “Patologia del Legno”, Edagricole, Bologna
Subjects | Text References | |
---|---|---|
1 | Disease concept and classification. | 1, 2 and 3 - Teaching materials provided by the lecturer |
2 | Concept of forest ecosystem. Concept of urban forest; peculiarities of urban environment. Peculiarities and aspects of nursery cultivation. | 3 e 4 - Teaching materials provided by the lecturer |
3 | Symptomatology: Interpretation of symptoms | 1,2 e 3 - Teaching materials provided by the lecturer |
4 | Diagnosis: Concept of diagnosis and types of diagnosis. | 1,2 e 3 - Teaching materials provided by the lecturer |
5 | Development stages of an infectious disease | 2 e 3 - Teaching materials provided by the lecturer |
6 | Mechanisms of pathogen infection and plant resistance | 1, 2 e 3 - eaching materials provided by the lecturer |
7 | Epidemiology | 2 e 3 - Teaching materials provided by the lecturer |
8 | Methods and means of control in different environments. Phytosanitary legislation. | 1, 2 e 3 |
9 | Features on the main agents of plant diseases and their interactions with plants in relation to the environment. | 1, 2 e 3 |
10 | Diseases caused by oomycetes: root and collar rots of ornamental and forestry plants in natural and anthropized environments | 1,2,3 e 4 - Teaching materials provided by the lecturer |
11 | Cankers: definition, characteristics, symptoms, damage, and diagnosis | 1,2,3 e 4. Teaching materials provided by the lecturer |
12 | Diseases caused by fungi: Diseases of the leaf system of ornamental and forestry plants | 1,2,3 e 4 - Teaching materials provided by the lecturer |
13 | Wood Decay: definition, process of infection; types of decay; identification of the decaying agent; damage and methods of control and defense. | 1, 2, 3 e 6 - Teaching materials provided by the lecturer |
14 | Bacterial diseases: characteristics , symptoms, damage and diagnosis | 1,2,3 e 4 - Teaching materials provided by the lecturer |
15 | Non-parasitic disorders: characteristics, symptoms, damage, and diagnosis | 1,3,5 |
The learning assessment will be through a written, open-ended midterm test lasting 2 hours, The outcome of the test, evaluated in thirtieths, will be averaged with the outcome of the oral test to achieve the final grade.
The oral exam will consist of an in-depth study of a monographic topic inherent to the program carried out,chosen in agreement with the teacher,with presentation of a written paper and a Power point to be discussed orally in the exam. The assessment of the student's preparation, expressed in 30ths, will be made on the basis of the following criteria: quality and level of thoroughness of the 'topic covered; property of synthesis and exposition (the technical language property ), and the student's ability to argue. During the presentation, professor will ascertain the knowledge acquired during the course with some specific questions.
Only for students who did not take the intermedia test or failed it, an individual oral discussion will be required in addition to the PowerPoint, which tests the knowledge and skills overall acquired. The evaluation expressed in thirtieths will be based on the relevance of the answers given, the quality of the content, the student's ability to connect the different topics and provide concrete examples;In addition, the ability to use technical terminology will be taken into account.
The final judgment is as follows:
Subject knowledge and understanding: has limited and fragmentary knowledge of fundamental topics;
Analysis and synthesis skills: performs analysis in a superficial and largely incomplete manner
Language and expressive skills: makes use of inadequate terminology and uncertain and confusing language.
18-20
Subject knowledge and understanding: superficial and partial
Analysis and synthesis skills: makes incomplete and inadequate analysis and synthesis.
Language and expressive skills: uses specific language not always correctly.
21-23
Subject knowledge and understanding: knows with sufficient accuracy the basic elements of the topics covered
Analysis and synthesis skills: performs almost complete, but not in-depth analysis and synthesis
Language and expressive skills: uses specific language in a simple but appropriate manner.
24-26
Subject knowledge and understanding: Good knowledge
Analysis and synthesis skills: Has good analysis and synthesis skills. Topics are consistently expressed
Linguistic and expressive skills: Uses specific language confidently and correctly.
27-29
Subject knowledge and understanding: has complete, thorough and coordinated knowledge of the topics covered
Analysis and synthesis skills: performs complete and thorough analysis and synthesis
Language and expressive skills: uses specific language confidently, articulately and fluently.
30-30 cum laude
Subject knowledge and understanding: has complete, detailed, comprehensive and personalized knowledge of the topics covered
Ability to analyze and synthesize: knows how to organize independently and completely the knowledge acquired, and is capable of autonomous evaluations and connections
Linguistic and expressive skills: uses specific language confidently, articulately and fluently
Definition of infectious and noninfectious disease; pathogens and parasites
Characteristics of biotrophic and necrotrophic pathogens. Examples
Explain the criteria for classification of diseases.
List Koch's postulates and illustrate their application in Plant Pathology.
What are the factors of aggression (or mechanisms of attack) of disease agents and why are they produced? Give an example of a trophic disease and one of an auxonic disease
Outline the main characteristics of fungi and oomycetes
What is a symptom? Describe a few of your choice and associate them with a disease
Describe the symptoms of root rot caused by Armillaria.
Explain the pathogenetic mechanism of the bacterial root rot agent
Illustrate the strategy for controlling root rot
etc.