the course covers the following topics: multitrophic interactions among plants, phytophages (mainly insects, nematodes, mites), their natural enemies, and other involved organisms (e.g. symbionts); management of plant pests considering multitrophic interactions.
Manuale di zoologia agraria, B. Baccetti, S. Barbagallo, L. Suss, E. Tremblay, Delfino editore, Roma 2000.
Entomologia generale e applicata, L. Masutti, S. Zangheri, Cedam, Padova 2001.
Learning Objectives
the course provides a broad-based knowledge of the relationships among plants, pests, natural enemies, and other organisms to define appropriate and rational pest control interventions
Prerequisites
Students are expected to be familiar with biology principles and terminology and with plant morphology, anatomy, and physiology.
Teaching Methods
Lectures (hours):26
Laboratory-field/practice (hours): 22
Type of Assessment
written exam on the topics covered in class.
evaluation: ability to present the notions acquired during the course using a proper technical-scientific language
Course program
The complex relationships among phytophages, plants, natural enemies, and other living organisms will be considered from a synecological perspective. The course will deal with the mechanisms that underlie the delicate relationships established in nature between phytophages and plants, or among phytophages, plant pathogens, and plants; relationships between phytophages and their antagonists in agricultural and forest ecosystems will also be considered. These interactions will be considered with a view to containing infestations of the most harmful phytophages.