FOOD PATHOLOGY AND PARASITOLOGY

Learning Objectives

• Postharvest Pathology of Plant Products

  The course aims to provide students with the tools necessary for the diagnosis of the main biotic and abiotic diseases and for the control and prevention of post-harvest contamination by mycotoxins that affect the quality and quantity of plants.

• Stored product pests

  Provide knowledge on the biological and behavioral traits of the main groups of pests
  in order to define of the most appropriate management and control programs for specific infestations
  in the main territorial agro-food industries

Course Structure

• Postharvest Pathology of Plant Products

  The course will be provided by frontal lessons in the classroom (42h) as weel as laboratory exercises (14h); 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.

• Stored product pests

  The course will comprise classes (n. 35 hrs), laboratory and field training (n. 14 hrs) (traditional classes or online courses)

  Should teaching be carried out in mixed mode or remotely, it may be necessary to introduce changes with respect to previous statements, in line with the programme planned and outlined in the syllabus.

  Learning assessment may also be carried out on line, should the conditions require it.

Detailed Course Content

• Postharvest Pathology of Plant Products

  The course provides students with the necessary tools for the diagnosis of principal biotic and abiotic diseases and mycotoxin contaminations vitiating the quality and quantity of vegetable in post-harvest and storage as well as the criteria and control methods for their prevention foreseen in post-harvest

• Stored product pests

  Introduction: foodstuffs and damage caused by animal parasites.
  Arthropods: general characteristics.
  Insects: morphology, anatomy and postembryonic development. Population development and damage.
  Mites: morphology, anatomy, postembryonic development. Population development and damage.
  Rodents: General characteristics. Murids: morphology, anatomy, development. Population development
  and damage.
  Birds and other harmful organisms: General characteristics and damage caused.
  The main insect orders
  Stored product insect pests
  Stored product mite pests
  Rodents harmful to foodstuffs
  Ecology of biocenosis living on foodstuffs
  Animal organisms as vectors of pathogens for humans and pets
  Processing and commercial environments
  Prevention of infestations
  Pest monitoring techniques
  Methods for the evaluation of solid impurities in food
  Animals infesting the foodstuffs and the self-control system
  Control methods: physical, biological, biotechnical and chemical tools

Textbook Information

• Postharvest Pathology of Plant Products

  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: De Cicco V., Bertolini P., Salerno M.G. Patologia post-raccolta dei prodotti vegetali. Piccin Editore, 274 pp.
  • Book 2: Belli G. Elementi di patologia vegetale. Piccin Editore, 475 pp.

  • Teacher notes, papers and monographies
• Stored product pests

  1. Süss L. & Locatelli D.P. I parassiti delle derrate. Calderini Edagricole, Bologna, 2001, 363 pp. (ISBN: 978-88-206-4614-1)

  2. Trematerra P. - Süss L. 2007. Prontuario di entomologia merceologica e urbana. Con note morfologiche, biologiche e di gestione delle infestazioni. Aracne Editrice, (ISBN: 978-88-548-1195-9)

  3. Trematerra P. 2016 Entomologia urbana applicata. Aracne Editrice, (ISBN: 978-88-548-9143-2)

  4. Hagstrum D.W. E Subramanyam B. Fundamentals of stored-product entomology. AACC, St. Paul, Minnesota. 2006. 323 pp.