DIFESA FITOSANITARIA

Module PATOLOGIA DELLE PIANTE AGRO-FORESTALI E ORNAMENTALI

 The course aims to provide the basics of diseases of biotic and abiotic origin of major Mediterranean crops, plant 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. 

-Acquiring appropriate technical/scientific terminology 

- Ability to express  clearly and concisely course content , using specific terminology  

The didactic objectives will be achieved through frontal theoretical lectures (3CFU) wich will be held using Powerpoint support. Specific sites will be consulted favoring interaction with students. Other activity (3CFU)  include pratical  laboratory activities focus on topics covered in theoretical lessons, technical field visits of multidisciplinary interest  to promote students' learning and increase their practical knowledge on the main plant pathogens,seminars on module-related topics and individual classroom work.

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 professor 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 aims to provide knowledge on diseases of biotic and abiotic origin of  the main Mediterranean crops, ornamentals and plants used for  landscaping  and green areas.

General concepts of Plant pathology. Main agents of plants diseases and their interactions with plants for the environment. Types  of disease; types and pictures of symptoms; phytopathological diagnostics.Development cycle of an infectious disease. Influence of environmental factors on disease development. Mechanisms of pathogen virulence and plant resistance. Epidemiology. Methods of diseases control control: agronomic, physical, mechanical, biological means and  chemical means principles of integrated pest control. Phytosanitary legislation.

Major diseases of ornamental plants and Mediterranean scrub. Diseases caused by oomycetes: Root and collar rots of ornamental and forestry plants in natural and anthropised environments;  Diseases caused by fungi: Diseases of the leaf apparatus of ornamental and forestry plants ; cancers ; Tracheomycosis; Wood decay: process of infection; types of decay; identification of the cariogenic agent;  verification of tree stability: VTA method. Bacterial diseases: Root rot. Bacterial blights .Fire blight of rosaceae. Non-parasitic alterations: water stress; heat stress; pollutant damage.

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 exercises (2 CFU): 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. 

Individual student work (1CFU): in-depth study of a case study

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

 Teaching materials provided by the lecturer

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:

Ineligible

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

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.