Low Environmental Impact Techniques and Methodologies for the Control of Plant Diseases
A.Y. 2024/2025
Learning objectives
The course will provide to the students specialized knowledge on innovative tools for control of plant diseases, such as the use of natural molecules and biocontrol, with particular focus on the different mechanisms of action, theoretical bases of their effects, and the scientific and experimental process for determining their efficacy.
The theoretical notions will be complemented with practical activities carried out in greenhouse and laboratory, allowing students to obtain practical competences regarding the preparation, use, and evaluation of the effects of the tools the course focuses on.
The theoretical notions will be complemented with practical activities carried out in greenhouse and laboratory, allowing students to obtain practical competences regarding the preparation, use, and evaluation of the effects of the tools the course focuses on.
Expected learning outcomes
At the end of the course, the students will be able to:
· describe the main low environmental impact innovative tools for the control of plant diseases, the differences between them, advantages and disadvantages, and cases of application for each;
· autonomously develop an experiment that aims at evaluating the efficacy of a biocontrol treatment at laboratory, greenhouse, or field scale;
· critically analyze experiments, scientific literature, and data on the topic of biocontrol to evaluate the real potential utilization of these tools.
· describe the main low environmental impact innovative tools for the control of plant diseases, the differences between them, advantages and disadvantages, and cases of application for each;
· autonomously develop an experiment that aims at evaluating the efficacy of a biocontrol treatment at laboratory, greenhouse, or field scale;
· critically analyze experiments, scientific literature, and data on the topic of biocontrol to evaluate the real potential utilization of these tools.
Lesson period: Second semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
The course's lectures (3,5 CFU) will cover the following topics:
· Deepening of core concepts and lexicon regarding plant protection related to biocontrol and natural molecules; interactions and mechanisms of action of biocontrol against different types of pathogens and/or pests; different classes of tools included in biocontrol (0,25 CFU);
· Resistance inducers: mechanisms of action, different resistance pathways in plants, classes of resistance inducers, examples of available resistance inducers and case studies on their use (0,75 CFU);
· Double-stranded RNA: molecular bases of their effect and RNA interference mechanisms, methods to produce, deliver double-stranded RNA and their effects, case studies on their use (0,5 CFU);
· Biocontrol agents: plant-microorganism interaction, traditional and molecular methods to detect, isolate and characterize biocontrol agents, case studies on the use of biocontrol agents (0,75 CFU);
· Natural extracts: use rationale, methods to extract, characterize and employ them against pathogens, case studies on their use (0,5 CFU);
· Evaluation of treatment effect: methods to quantify damage, verify and/or quantify the presence of pathogens/pests, evaluation of treatment efficacy (0,25 CFU).
· Development of experimental plans to determine the efficacy of a biocontrol tool on different scales and towards different pathogen/pest types (0,5 CFU);
Practical activities in greenhouse, laboratory, and classroom (2,5 CFU) will allow the students to:
· Prepare and administer treatments based on biocontrol agents, resistance inducers and other molecules covered in the course;
· Inoculate different kinds of pathogens (fungi, viruses, bacteria) in controlled conditions;
· Collect and evaluate data on the damage caused by the pathogens and on the effect of the treatments carried out, using phenotypical surveys as well as traditional and molecular lab techniques;
· Analyze and discuss the data obtained in the greenhouse and laboratory activities;
· See demonstrations of examples useful for the preparation of the individual project for the final exam of the course.
· Deepening of core concepts and lexicon regarding plant protection related to biocontrol and natural molecules; interactions and mechanisms of action of biocontrol against different types of pathogens and/or pests; different classes of tools included in biocontrol (0,25 CFU);
· Resistance inducers: mechanisms of action, different resistance pathways in plants, classes of resistance inducers, examples of available resistance inducers and case studies on their use (0,75 CFU);
· Double-stranded RNA: molecular bases of their effect and RNA interference mechanisms, methods to produce, deliver double-stranded RNA and their effects, case studies on their use (0,5 CFU);
· Biocontrol agents: plant-microorganism interaction, traditional and molecular methods to detect, isolate and characterize biocontrol agents, case studies on the use of biocontrol agents (0,75 CFU);
· Natural extracts: use rationale, methods to extract, characterize and employ them against pathogens, case studies on their use (0,5 CFU);
· Evaluation of treatment effect: methods to quantify damage, verify and/or quantify the presence of pathogens/pests, evaluation of treatment efficacy (0,25 CFU).
· Development of experimental plans to determine the efficacy of a biocontrol tool on different scales and towards different pathogen/pest types (0,5 CFU);
Practical activities in greenhouse, laboratory, and classroom (2,5 CFU) will allow the students to:
· Prepare and administer treatments based on biocontrol agents, resistance inducers and other molecules covered in the course;
· Inoculate different kinds of pathogens (fungi, viruses, bacteria) in controlled conditions;
· Collect and evaluate data on the damage caused by the pathogens and on the effect of the treatments carried out, using phenotypical surveys as well as traditional and molecular lab techniques;
· Analyze and discuss the data obtained in the greenhouse and laboratory activities;
· See demonstrations of examples useful for the preparation of the individual project for the final exam of the course.
Prerequisites for admission
Base notions in molecular biology, genetics, plant pathology and entomology.
Teaching methods
The course will use both lectures and practical activities in greenhouse, laboratory, and classroom.
Teaching Resources
Slides made available to the students and indicated scientific articles from the literature.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The final exam will be divided in two sections: a written test and the evaluation of an individual project that will be presented orally.
The written test will have the aim of evaluating the students' ability to describe the different tools covered in the course, the theoretical and applicative differences between them, and the ability to critically analyze data and scientific literature on this topic.
The oral presentation and discussion of the short project will simulate the description of an experimental plan to assess the validity and efficacy of a hypothetical biocontrol tool. This second section will evaluate the students' ability to autonomously develop an experiment, based both on the theoretical notions and the experience obtained in the practical part of the course.
Both sections of the exams will be evaluated in thirties and the final vote will be calculated as the arithmetic mean of the two votes.
Students with SLD or disability certifications are kindly requested to contact the teacher at least 15 days before the date of the exam session to agree on individual exam requirements. In the email please make sure to add in cc the competent offices: [email protected] (for students with SLD) o [email protected] (for students with disability).
The written test will have the aim of evaluating the students' ability to describe the different tools covered in the course, the theoretical and applicative differences between them, and the ability to critically analyze data and scientific literature on this topic.
The oral presentation and discussion of the short project will simulate the description of an experimental plan to assess the validity and efficacy of a hypothetical biocontrol tool. This second section will evaluate the students' ability to autonomously develop an experiment, based both on the theoretical notions and the experience obtained in the practical part of the course.
Both sections of the exams will be evaluated in thirties and the final vote will be calculated as the arithmetic mean of the two votes.
Students with SLD or disability certifications are kindly requested to contact the teacher at least 15 days before the date of the exam session to agree on individual exam requirements. In the email please make sure to add in cc the competent offices: [email protected] (for students with SLD) o [email protected] (for students with disability).
AGR/12 - PLANT PATHOLOGY - University credits: 6
Laboratories: 40 hours
Lessons: 28 hours
Lessons: 28 hours
Professor:
Passera Alessandro
Shifts:
Turno
Professor:
Passera AlessandroProfessor(s)
Reception:
On appointment by email
Second floor - Building 7, via Celoria 2, Milan