Insects: major anatomical and morphological structures in relation to the food damage with trace analysis for identification purposes; biology and control of main stored food pests.
-Post harvest diseases: the module deals with diseases that may develop during post harvest and with the available practices for prevention and defense.
Text books:
L. Süss, D. P. Locatelli (2001),“I parassiti delle derrate”,Edagricole, Bologna.
e urbana”, Aracne Editrice, Roma
D. Capizzi, L. Santini (2007), “I Roditori italiani”, Antonio Delfino Editore, Roma
Belcari A., Macchione P., Gianchecchi U., Bacciotti D., Nencetti A., Rossi F.,2012, “ Gestione Integrata degli animali infestanti nelle industrie alimentari” FUP, Univestità degli Studi di Firenze
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-Patologie in post raccolta:
-Belli G.,2012. Elementi di Patologia Vegetale. Seconda edizione. PICCIN Editore, Padova
-De Cicco V., Bertolini P., Salerno M.G., 2009. Patologia post-raccolta dei prodotti vegetali. Piccin Editore, Padova.
-Anelli G. e F. Mencarelli, 1990. Conservazione degli ortofrutticoli, REDA, Roma.
-Bondoux P., 1992. Maladies de conservation des fruits à pépins pommes et poires. INRA, Paris, 173 pp.
Snowdon A.I., 1990. A color atlas of post-harvest diseases and disorders of fruit and vegetables. Vol. 1, 2. Wolfe Ed., 302 pp.
Learning Objectives
Knowledge acquired: basics on arthopods pests of the stored food.
Competence acquired (at the end of the course): to give a right determination of arthropod pests and/or their damages
Skills acquired (at the end of the course):
To plan proper strategies for prevention and control of stored food pests.
-Post harvest diseases
Knowledge acquired at the end of the course:notions of the main alterations of biotic and abiotic origin that can occur during food storage;
Competence acquired (at the end of the course): experience on the main problems related to the conservation of fruit, vegetables and grains and on the available practices for disease management;
Skills acquired (at the end of the course): to focus the main aspects of risk analysis on food and feed alterations during post-harvest.
Prerequisites
Biology, Microbiology, Organic Chemistry
Teaching Methods
Contact hours for:24
Lectures:
Laboratory/practice: 16
Seminars/excursions: 8.
Post harvest:
Lectures (hours): 18
Practice (hours): 6
Further information
Frequency of lectures, practice and lab:
recommended
Teaching tools: movies, insects pests slides, entomological boxes and living insects pests
Type of Assessment
Entomology:oral examination.
Post harvest: written text (Quiz).
Course program
Introduction. Insects within Arthropods. Morphology of Insects: head, thorax and abdomen. Mouth parts and feeding activity.
Anatomy and physiology of the following systems: integument, nervous, endocrine, respiratory, circulatory, digestive, excretory, reproductive. The insects life cycle. Reproduction and development. Moulting process, metamorphosis. General models of the life cycle. The no-metamorphosis model. The gradual metamorphosis model. The incomplete metamorphosis model. The complete metamorphosis model. The adult. Reproductive behaviour and foraging strategies. Pheromones. Insects classification. Useful and harmful species. Insects collecting and species identification. The entomological box. Insects pest control. Integrated Pest Management. Biological control. Surveillance and sampling.
General and introductory relating to earwig, Hemiptera and Psocoptera
General and introductory aspects of Apterigota related to: Tysanura: biology, ecology and resources for monitoring and control;
General and introductory aspects related to Pterigota: Blattoidea: Bioecology, ethology, damage, monitoring and control systems;
Morpho-taxonomic examination of the main species damaging the stored food: biology and integrated pest management (bioecology, ethology, damage, monitoring and control) of the main species belonging the the following orders: Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, Diptera.
Rodents sinanthropus: biology, ecology and morpho-taxonomic examination of the major pest in the food chain; trace analysis for the identification, monitoring and control of Mus domesticus, Rattus rattus and Rattus norvegicus.
-Post harvest diseases:
General Plant Pathology - Basic concepts, fungal and bacterial plant pathogens, disease cycle, main mechanisms of attacks by pathogens and host plant defense.
General Post-harvest Pathology - Definition, economic importance of market diseases, factors influencing post-harvest diseases, and basic knowledge for prevention and treatment.
Most important post-harvest diseases of fruit and vegetables. Basics of diagnosis of post harvest diseases.
Mycotoxins from fungal infections in fresh produce. Biology of the most important mycotoxigenic fungi (Aspergillus, Peniciliium, Fusarium, Alternaria). main mycotoxins in vegetables, cereals and grape. Elements for diagnosis and basic principles for control.