PEST AND DISEASE MANAGEMENT

The teaching course aims to provide a high level of knowledge on the control of fruit and vegetable crops. It will have to train a professional figure able to identify and suggest the most effective management strategies for the control of the main causal agents of plant diseases. The course will also provide the criteria for constant professional updating in the crop protection sector. At the end of the course the student will be able to consult the sector bibliography, to use the websites of phytosanitary interest and to develop effective eco-sustainable strategies for controlling of the main plant disease agents.

Teaching course include 28 hours of theoretical lessons and 28 hours of practical activities including exercises in classroom and in lab, technical visits and teaching seminars. The student, also through group work, will be able to plan sustainable approach to manage biotic diseases and abiotic disorders of cultivated crops. 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 can be done remotely if necessary.

Diseases identification. Quantification of the damage: disease incidence and severity. Control strategy: principles and tactics. Chemical and non chemical soil and substrate disinfestations. Cultural control. Chemical control. Fungicide resistance and guidelines for to avoid resistance. Schedule treatments. Web sites related to disease control.

Lorenzini G., Nali C. 2012. Principi di Fitoiatria. Calderini Edagricole, Bologna