Italian, with power point presentations and supporting scientific materials in English
Course Content
Programme (short version for Diploma Supplement):
To provide theoretical and practical knowledge and skills on the role and the use of biotechnology in understanding the plant-phytopathogen molecular dialogue, as well as in the resulting applications for the design and development of environmentally friendly and sustainable plant protection molecules and strategies.
1) Plant Pathology
5th Edition (2005)
by G. Agrios, Ed. Academic Press
2) Essential Plant Pathology (2010), by G.L. Schumann & C.J. D’Arcy, APS Press.
3) Genomics of Plant-Associated Bacteria (2014),
Eds D. Gross, A. Lichens-Park, K. Chittaranjan (Eds.)
Springer
https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007%2F978-3-642-55378-3
4) digital learning and supporting materials/scientific papers provided during the course.
Learning Objectives
Knowledge acquired:
Advanced topics related to biotechnology applied to plant pathology and molecular plant pathology, as well as to the deriving applications for the innovative and environmentally sustainable management of plant diseases, to ensure income and preservation of the environment and landscape, in the frame of global climate changes and by using cutting-edge biotechnological approaches.
Competence acquired at the end of the course:
Ability to understand the evolution and the development of the molecular interaction between plant-pathogen, to design innovative and sustainable multidisciplinary strategies to address the challenges in plant protection posed by the ongoing global climate changes.
Skills acquired at the end of the course:
Ability to apply acquired knowledge and understanding finalized to their involvement on research and working activities in molecular plant pathology and innovative plant protection.
Prerequisites
It is recommended to have basic knowledge about Cellular Biology, Molecular Biology, Genetics, Biochemistry, Plant Physiology and Plant Pathology.
Teaching Methods
Lectures, laboratory exercises and practices= CFU 6, 48 ore
Lectures= 26 hours
Laboratoy practice/Exercise= 22 hours
During the course, the students will periodically hold short seminars (10 min/each) of in-depth and critical analysis of the main topics covered in class, agreed with the teacher and preparatory to the final learning verification.
Further information
Attendance of lectures and lab practice, although not compulsory, is strongly recommended.
The topics covered during the laboratory exercises and the educational visits are also part of the program on which the learning verification test is concerned.
Type of Assessment
Oral exam at the end of the course.
As introductory element of the verification, a brief presentation (10 min) is asked to be elaborated by the student on one of the most innovative aspects of the molecular interactions between plants and pathogens.
Course program
Lectures
1) Molecular Plant Pathology: genetic and molecular determinants of pathogenicity / virulence, resistance / susceptibility, in the frame of host-pathogen interactions regulated by concepts such as pathovar / forma specialis, races and cultivars, host/non host.
2) Molecular Plant Pathology: genomics and other OMICs applied to phytopathogens to unveil and decode plant-pathogen dialogue.
3) Biotechnology and Molecular Plant Pathology to address the challenges arising from climate changes, globalization of the markets, and alien and invasive plant pathogens.
Lab practice:
1. Innovative Molecular Diagnostics in plant protection
2. Main bioinformatic approaches used in molecular plant pathology and biotechnology applied to the study of host-pathogen interactions.