Plant Pathology Applied to Ornamental Plants and Turfgrass
A.Y. 2024/2025
Learning objectives
The course aims to develop the knowledge on the main diseases of ornamental species in nurseries, greenhouses, urban environments and turfgrass and the diagnostic approaches for their diagnosis. Some case studies will be treated to understand the ways in which the pathogens attack plants, the alterations, the damage caused, how they are diagnosed and the general principles for setting the appropriate methods of prevention and control.
Expected learning outcomes
Recognize the causes that can damage ornamental plants, assess their incidence, propose prevention, and control criteria in the various fields of study, respecting human health and the environment.
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 aims to provide the basic knowledge of the particularly significant diseases that affect ornamental, herbaceous and woody species, and those that make up urban green. The course also presents the diagnostic techniques employed for detecting such diseases and the strategies on which modern methods of prevention and control must be based.
In the context of the teaching program, some examples of particularly significant diseases will be considered. Concerning this academic year, the following diseases will be considered: phytoplasma-associated diseases of ornamental (periwinkle, daisy, poinsettia, lavender), urban green (elm, pine tree, maple, ash tree), and turf grass plant species (2 CFU); abiotic stresses, rose and tulip viroses, bacterial rot (Erwinia and Pectobacterium), fungal root rot (Armillaria and Rhizoctonia), dutch elm disease, hornbeam decline, canker stain of plane, wood decay, and their diagnosis, main fungal turf grass diseases (3 CFU).
In the context of the teaching program, some examples of particularly significant diseases will be considered. Concerning this academic year, the following diseases will be considered: phytoplasma-associated diseases of ornamental (periwinkle, daisy, poinsettia, lavender), urban green (elm, pine tree, maple, ash tree), and turf grass plant species (2 CFU); abiotic stresses, rose and tulip viroses, bacterial rot (Erwinia and Pectobacterium), fungal root rot (Armillaria and Rhizoctonia), dutch elm disease, hornbeam decline, canker stain of plane, wood decay, and their diagnosis, main fungal turf grass diseases (3 CFU).
Prerequisites for admission
It is recommended to have knowledge of the bases of plant pathology; knowledge of agronomic techniques and management of the main herbaceous and arboreal ornamental plant species and turf grass.
Teaching methods
The teachers will use: lectures (5 CFU) and laboratory practices (1 CFU) to improve knowledge of some topics of the discipline. Laboratory activities include: (i) diagnosis of cultivable fungal pathogens (6 hours): preparation of fungal cultures from different inoculum sources, observation of growth and isolation in pure culture, microscopic observation of isolated fungi and recognition using dichotomous keys; (ii) diagnosis of non-cultivable pathogens (10 hours): extraction of total nucleic acids from periwinkles infected by phytoplasmas associated with distinct ornamental plant diseases, amplification (nested PCR) of genes for the identification of phytoplasmas, electrophoretic analysis and visualization of amplification products. Concerning the development of knowledge related to case-study diseases, the teacher will periodically hold lessons on the most significant host-pathogen complexes of the various disease frameworks. At the same time, students will be invited to collect information regarding similar phytopathological problems on different ornamental species which will be discussed collectively and periodically in the classroom. At the end of the course the students will have to produce a report on the information collected which will be made available to the other students as useful material for the preparation of the exam.
Teaching Resources
The scheduled topics can be developed using the following teaching materials:
1) Notes from lessons;
2) Belli G. - Patologia Vegetale, Piccin, Padova, 2012;
3) Vannacci G. - Patologia vegetale, Edises Università, 2021;
4) Garibaldi G., Gullino M.L., Lisa V., Malattie delle piante ornamentali, Calderini Edagricole,
5) Garibaldi G., Bertetti D, Rapetti S., Gullino M.L. Malattie delle piante ornamentali, Edagricole.
6) Material available on the course MyARIEL website.
1) Notes from lessons;
2) Belli G. - Patologia Vegetale, Piccin, Padova, 2012;
3) Vannacci G. - Patologia vegetale, Edises Università, 2021;
4) Garibaldi G., Gullino M.L., Lisa V., Malattie delle piante ornamentali, Calderini Edagricole,
5) Garibaldi G., Bertetti D, Rapetti S., Gullino M.L. Malattie delle piante ornamentali, Edagricole.
6) Material available on the course MyARIEL website.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam consists of an oral test on the topics in the program will be based on 2-3 questions, aimed at ascertaining the achievement of the teaching objectives, the diseases of ornamental plant and turf grass, their diagnosis methods and control approaches. During the examination, descriptions or comments of images or diagrams related to the individual topics in the program may be requested. Moreover, an important part of the exam will be focused on a speech by the students on a disease selected within a list provided by the teachers.
During the year, various exam sessions are proposed during the periods set by the didactic regulation. The dates of the exam sessions are regularly and officially published, in the times and in the manner prescribed by the regulations, on the SIFA web pages.
As a rule, monthly appeals are scheduled.
Students enrolled in an exam session and who no longer wish to support it are required to unsubscribe and possibly promptly notify the teacher in the case of registration already closed.
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).
During the year, various exam sessions are proposed during the periods set by the didactic regulation. The dates of the exam sessions are regularly and officially published, in the times and in the manner prescribed by the regulations, on the SIFA web pages.
As a rule, monthly appeals are scheduled.
Students enrolled in an exam session and who no longer wish to support it are required to unsubscribe and possibly promptly notify the teacher in the case of registration already closed.
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: 16 hours
Lessons: 40 hours
Lessons: 40 hours
Professors:
Quaglino Fabio, Saracchi Marco
Shifts:
Educational website(s)
Professor(s)
Reception:
On appointment by email (in case of health restrictions on Microsoft Teams)
Second flor - Building 7, via Celoria 2, Milan
Reception:
it is received by appointment
Via Celoria 2, Building 21030