2023/2024

The course aims to consolidate and expand the knowledge of phytopathological biotechnology, deepening the new frontier techniques for an eco-sustainable control of the main agricultural phytopathologies. Students will acquire problem solving skills by approaching the subject in a multidisciplinary manner (plant pathology, physiology, molecular biology, genetics), to apply these skills in a scientific research context. Students will acquire the ability to integrate their multidisciplinary knowledge, in order to contextualize the possible social and ethical implications of phytopathological biotechnologies. This will be possible because students will be able to formulate scientific judgments/assumptions even on the basis of incomplete or limited information. Students will be able to communicate their knowledge with an appropriate scientific language, with a view to practicing speaking with specialists and non-specialists. This will be possible thanks to the exam format, which includes the presentation of a project by the student. The student will be able to study autonomously and self-managed, thanks to the fact that during the course the key notions are provided to then autonomously develop an exam project, also on the basis of the student's research inclinations.

Plant pathology, microbiology, genetics, molecular biology

Teacher's slides, scientific articles recommended by the teacher

Introduction to the course, overview of the syllabus, how the exam is conducted, assignment of case studies
General concepts of plant pathology and Summary of the main phytopathogens: bacteria, phytoplasmas, fungi, oomycetes, viruses
General concepts of struggle and "conventional" struggle: agronomic, genetic, legislative, with synthetic chemistry
Definition of organic farming, regulation and legislation, the program of the European Green Deal and how to set up new methods of struggle
Defense mechanisms of plants
Mechanisms of antagonism
Use of natural substances with antimicrobial action and elicitors
Use of nanotechnologies: direct antimicrobial action, as carrier of active substances and nucleic acids
Gene delivery for plant resistance
Predictive models and phenomics
Diagnostics

Teacher's slides, scientific articles recommended by the teacher

Lectures, laboratory

Not mandatory

A case study will be assigned to each student, who will have to prepare a power point presentation to be exhibited during the exam date.

    SARA FRANCESCONI