48
Plant Pathology
REGGIO DI CALABRIA
Overview
Date/time interval
Syllabus
Course Objectives
The course aims to provide basic knowledge of the biotic factors of plant disease and plant products, enabling students to identify phytosanitary problems , diagnose the causal agent and propose suitable preventive control. Students will know infectious cycles and epidemiology factors of the main fungal, bacterial, and viral-like diseases, as well as microbiological and molecular methods for disease diagnosis. The knowledge acquired is applied to develop preventative measures that reduce qualitative and quantitative production losses, with a view to environmental sustainability.
The course includes practical training in the diagnosis and development of integrated control strategies aimed at preventing or delaying the appearance and development of diseases during the production, harvesting, storage, and distribution of plant products.
Course Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of botanic, biology and genetic
Teaching Methods
classroom lessons and laboratory practical work
Assessment Methods
Oral exam
The oral exam will be graded on the following scale:
- 30 - 30 with honors: Complete, detailed, and in-depth knowledge of the subject matter, with correct terminology. Excellent understanding, distinguishing key points and developing interdisciplinary connections. Consolidated ability to apply knowledge and analyze results. Clear, structured, logical, and concise presentation.
- 28 - 29: In-depth knowledge, correct terminology, and explanation of the main concepts. Solid understanding, framing of key points, and discussion with individual insights. Excellent ability to apply knowledge and analyze results. Clear, articulate, logical, and mature presentation, albeit with some inaccuracies.
- 25 - 27: Extensive knowledge, although without fully explaining the relevant content. Use of terminology, not always accurate, identifying key concepts. Adequate understanding, distinguishing key points without fully framing them. Good ability to apply knowledge. Clear presentation, but not always complete, with schematic organization and sometimes fragmented thoughts.
- 22 - 24: Acceptable knowledge, albeit with gaps and some confusion in certain concepts. Essential understanding, not always framing the topics or inaccurate. Fair ability to apply fundamental concepts. Correct presentation, but without a clear and coherent structure, including irrelevant material.
- 18 - 21: Limited knowledge, with numerous gaps and an inability to illustrate key concepts completely and accurately. Basic understanding, with difficulty distinguishing and framing key points correctly. Uncertainty in applying the fundamental concepts of the subject.
- Fail: Poor, fragmented, and incomplete knowledge, lacking essential content. Serious errors in comprehension, failure to answer numerous questions, and failure to identify key concepts. Errors in applying fundamental concepts, failure to achieve an acceptable level of articulation of thought.
Texts
Patologia vegetale, Vannacci, Edises Università.
Elementi di patologia vegetale, Belli, Piccin ed.
Difesa fitosanitaria in ortofrutticoltura biologica, Benuzzi M, vacante V. Edagricole
Monographs on specific topics are suggested and provided during the course
Contents
Introduction to the Course.
• Definition of Disease
• Pathogenesis Factors: The Disease Triangle
• Impact of Plant and Plant Product Diseases on the Landscape, Human and Animal Health, and the Economy.
Definitions and Classification of Diseases
• Host Plant Susceptibility and Resistance: Immunity and Tolerance. Pathogen Virulence and Avirulence.
• Classification of Diseases by Causal Agent, Host Location, and Induced Physiological Alterations.
• Classification of Symptoms and Related Terminology.
• Abiotic and Biotic Alterations.
• Phases of the Infectious Cycle.
• Parasitism and Pathogenicity.
• Host-Pathogen Relationship: Biotrophism, Necrotrophism, and Hemibiotrophism
Plant Pathogenic Microorganisms
• Fungi and Oomycetes: Life Cycle and Reproduction;
• Bacteria: Life Cycle and Interaction with the Plant
• Viruses, Viroids, and Phytoplasmas: General Characteristics, Epidemiology, and Prevention
The Post-Harvest Infection Process:
• Host-Pathogen-Environment Interactions and the Role of Environmental Factors and the Host in Pathogenesis.
• Principles for Conservation and Prevention of Rot.
Diagnosis:
• The Diagnostic Procedure
• Koch's Postulates
• Isolation on Artificial Substrates and Observation with a Light Microscope
• Serological Diagnosis (ELISA and DTBIA) and Molecular Diagnosis (PCR and Real-Time PCR).
Control:
• Sustainable pest management in the field: agronomic, physical, and chemical control methods. General characteristics of pesticides and strategies for preventing pathogen resistance to fungicides.
• Preventive control criteria in the post-harvest phase.
• Alternative control strategies in the field and in storage. Biological control: control principles and case studies.
• Oomycete diseases: Downy mildew of potato and tomato (Phytophthora infestans)
• Ascomycete diseases: Powdery mildew of grapevine (Erysiphe necator; Oidium tuckeri); Apple scab (Venturia inaequalis, Spilocaea pomi = Fusicladium dendriticum);
• Post-harvest rots of citrus: Penicillium italicum and Penicilium digitatum. Brown rot caused by Phytophthora spp.
• Quarantine diseases: Olive quick wilt (Xylella fastidiosa sub. Pauca CoDi.Ro); Actinidia bacterial canker (Pseudomonas syringae actinidae); Citrus bacterial canker (Xanthomonas citri pv. citri); Citrus Huanglongbing (Ca. Liberibacter spp.)
Practical work :
Isolation of fungi e/or bacteria from infected symptomatic plant
Observation and description of fungal cultures in plates and fungal structures under the light microscope.
Theoretical setup of the PCR reaction mixture.
Practical execution of PCR: amplification of the ITS region of rDNA by polymerase chain reaction; agarose gel electrophoresis.