Identification of plant pathogens by visual analysis or by inspection of infected plant material in the laboratory. Microscope observations. Isolation of microorganisms in purity. Immunological methods. Methods of DNA extraction and analysis (PCR, electrophoresis).
Strategies, tactics and methods for agronomic, physical, genetic, chemical and biological control of plant diseases and their integration in plant disease management for sustainable agriculture. Phytosanitary regulation.
Panconesi A., Moricca S., Ragazzi A., Dellavalle I., Tiberi R. – Parassiti delle piante arboree forestali ed ornamentali. Specie introdotte e di temuta introduzione. Pàtron Editore, Bologna, 2014, 447 pp. ISBN 9788855532198
Ragazzi A., Moricca S. – Dizionario enciclopedico di patologia vegetale. Pàtron Editore, Bologna, 2019, 504 pp. ISBN 9788855534314
Specific papers and other material provided electronically (on Moodle platform) by the teacher.
Learning Objectives
Knowledge:
knowledge necessary for the study and identification of the etiological agents responsible for the main diseases of plants and to define appropriate integrated disease management.
Skills acquired (at the end of the course):
use of the main diagnostic techniques for the recognition of plant pathogens and of abiotic disorders occurring on plants in different contexts.
Skills acquired at the end of the course:
Use of strategies, tactics and control methods for the management of plant pathogens in the fields, in the woods, in the greenhouses, in nurseries and in the urban environment.
Prerequisites
Students are expected to be familiar with the principles and terminology of biology and microbiology, as well as with the morphology, anatomy, and physiology of plants.
Teaching Methods
Frontal lessons; exercises; seminars; guided tours in the field and in farms
Further information
Students are received every day by appointment: salvatore.moricca@unifi.it
Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Forestry Science and Technology (DAGRI), Plant Pathology and Entomology Section - University of Florence, Piazzale delle Cascine 28, Firenze
Type of Assessment
Oral examination.
Will be evaluated:
- learning ability;
- mastery of the subject;
- communication skills;
- rigor in arguing;
- completeness of the answers;
- appropriateness of technical-scientific language;
- ability to link between topics;
- capacity for critical reasoning on the subject and for interpreting the ecological factors that play a key role in the deterioration of forest populations
Course program
Concept of diagnosis. Anamnesis. Visual inspection of infected plants and plant parts to ascertain the symptoms and signs of disease. Analysis of chromatic alterations of plant tissues. Histological examination of plant tissue. Humid chambers. Isolation of plant pathogens in pure culture. Literature search. Experimental infection tests. Koch’s postulates. Symptom convergence and symptom divergence. Evaluation of the disease as it occurs on the different crops. DNA extraction techniques. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR). PCR variants. Electrophoretic techniques. Methods to detect DNA polymorphism (RFLP, RAPD, SSCP,etc. Sequencing of specific DNA regions (ribosomal DNA, mitochondrial DNA, or of other DNA regions - coding and non-coding - of diagnostic interest, etc.). Processing of nucelotide sequences in electronic databases (GenBank, EMBL, etc.); search for the higher homologies (BLAST); phylogenetic tree construction; identification on the basis of sequence similarity percentages.
Strategies, tactics and methods for physical, agronomic, genetic and biological disease management. Alteration of soil microbial balance through solarization, supply of organic matter, crop rotation, irrigation, etc. Allelopathy. Mycorrhizae, plant growth promoting rhizobacteria, endophytic microorganisms. Biological and molecular bases of hypovirulence, antibiosis, resistance induction, hyperparasitism. Biological control: suppressive soils and substrates; microorganism-based commercial products. Principles of plant breeding for disease resistance. Chemical control: main classes of fungicides; spectrum and mode of action; formulations; toxicity classes; pesticide resistance. Defence strategies and integration of control means. Seed treatments for disease control. Use of copper and sulfur in organic farming. Case studies of integrated disease management.
Evaluation of pesticide activity in vivo and in vitro. In vitro antagonism assays.
Phytosanitary legislation. Organization of the Inspection Service. Plans for the mandatory control of plant diseases. Support systems to control diseases and precision control strategies. Quarantine. EPPO protocols. Visits to laboratories of analysis and experimental field testing in plant pathology; visits to nurseries; field excursions.