ARTHROPOD PEST MANAGEMENT IN MEDITERRANEAN CROPS

Anno accademico 2019/2020 - 2° anno - Curriculum Tecnologie fitosanitarie
Docenti Crediti: 12
Lingua di insegnamento: Inglese
Organizzazione didattica: 300 ore d'impegno totale, 188 di studio individuale, 56 di lezione frontale, 56 di esercitazione
Semestre:

Obiettivi formativi

  • BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF ARTHROPOD PESTS

    The course aims to provide general knowledge on biocenotic interactions of animal species in natural and agricultural ecosystems as well as on the main biocontrol agents of plant pests; moreover the course provides theoretical and practical concepts on natural enemies rearing as well as on their field application strategies.

  • INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT OF ARTHROPOD PESTS

    The course aims at providing advanced knowledge on the ecological role and harmfulness of key insect pests of the major Mediterranean crops. The main sustainable integrated management strategies specific for each key insect pest of the Mediterranean environment are also provided.

    Students will be able to recognize the key insect pest and their damage, as well as to develop specific integrated and sustainable control strategies against them.


Modalità di svolgimento dell'insegnamento

  • BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF ARTHROPOD PESTS

    The didactic objectives will be achieved through classes conducted with digital didactic aids and laboratory trainings. The laboratory activities focus on topics covered in theoretical lessons and on the analysis of case studies. In addition, technical field visits of multidisciplinary interest will be organized. The course is delivered by a 50% of classes and a 50% of laboratory and field training.

  • INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT OF ARTHROPOD PESTS

    The course will be delivered by a 50% of lectures and a 50% of laboratory group activities, bibliographic searches, scientific paper discussions, seminars and technical field visits.


Prerequisiti richiesti

  • BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF ARTHROPOD PESTS

    Basic knowledge on Entomology and Agricultural Zoology

  • INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT OF ARTHROPOD PESTS

    General and applied Entomology, Agronomy, Basic knowledge on pesticide toxicology and applications


Frequenza lezioni

  • BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF ARTHROPOD PESTS

    Attendance is not compulsory to hold exams, but it is strongly recommended to attend at least the 70% of the didactic activities.

  • INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT OF ARTHROPOD PESTS

    Not compulsory, but highly recommended.


Contenuti del corso

  • BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF ARTHROPOD PESTS
    1. Concepts on the population dynamics of arthropod pests and their natural enemies in natural and agricultural ecosystems
    2. Identification and biology of the major groups of entomophagous arthropods and entomopathogenic agents
    3. Rearing techniques of entomophagous arthropods and their application in crop protection
    4. Microbiological control: application of viruses, bacteria, fungi and entomopathogenic nematodes
    5. Autocidal control: sterile insect technique (SIT), insect chemo-sterilizers
    6. Basic principles of agro-ecology: ecological infrastructures; habitat management for enhancing the functional biodiversity in agroecosystems
    7. Natural control and biological control strategies in the main agro-ecosystems: citrus orchard, vineyard, olive grove, fruit trees, open field and protected vegetables
  • INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT OF ARTHROPOD PESTS

    Concepts and applications of specific integrated pest management strategies, with focus on the control of key arthropod pests of the main Mediterranean agro-ecosystems, such as: (1) Citrus; (2) Olive; (3) Grape; (4) Pome and stone fruits; (5) Protected vegetables; (6) Open field vegetables and arable crops. Moreover, (7) a part of the course will be focused on exotic invasive insect pests at high risk of introduction, and on (8) pesticide (eco)toxicology.


Testi di riferimento

  • BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF ARTHROPOD PESTS

    1. BELLOWS T.S. & FISHER T.W. (Ed.), 1999. Handbook of biological control: principles and applications of biological control. Academic Press (978-0-12-257305-7)

    2. COPPING L.G. (Ed.) 2011. The manual of biocontrol agents: a world compendium. 4th Edition. BCPC Publ. (British Crop Production Council (978-1-901396-17-1)

    3. FLINT M.L. & DREISTADT S.H., 1998. Natural enemies handbook: the illustrated guide to biological pest control. Univ. Calif. Div. Agric. Nat. Res. Publ.3386, University of California Press (978-1-879906-41-9)

    4. HELYER N., BROWN K., CATTLIN N.D., 2014. Biological control in plant protection: a colour handbook, Second Edition CRC Press (978-1-84076-117-7)

  • INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT OF ARTHROPOD PESTS

    1. Alford D V (2013) Pests of Fruit Crops: A Colour Handbook. CRC Press

    2. Bostanian NJ, Vincent C, Isaacs R (2012) Arthropod Management in Vineyards: Pests, Approaches, and Future Directions. Springer Science & Business Media.

    3. Ciancio A, Mukerji KG (2010) Integrated management of arthropod pests and insect borne diseases. Springer Science & Business Media.

    4. Hulme PE (2009) Handbook of alien species in Europe (Vol. 569). Dordrecht, The Netherlands: Springer.

    5. Kogan M, Jepson PC (2007) Perspectives in ecological theory and integrated pest management. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    6. Radcliffe EB, Hutchison WD, Cancelado RE (2009) Integrated pest management: concepts, tactics, strategies and case studies. Cambridge University Press.


Programmazione del corso

BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF ARTHROPOD PESTS
 ArgomentiRiferimenti testi
1Concepts on the population dynamics of arthropod pests and their natural enemies in natural and agricultural ecosystems1, Didactic material provided on STUDIUM website 
2Recognition and biology of the major groups of entomophagous arthropods and entomopathogenic agents2, 3, 4, Didactic material provided on STUDIUM website 
3Rearing techniques of entomophagous arthropods and their application in crop protection1, Didactic material provided on STUDIUM website 
4Microbiological control: application of viruses, bacteria, fungi and entomopathogenic nematodes1, Didactic material provided on STUDIUM website 
5Autocidal control: sterile insect technique (SIT), insect chemo-sterilizers1, Didactic material provided on STUDIUM website 
6Basic principles of agro-ecology: ecological infrastructures; habitat management for enhancing the functional biodiversity in agroecosystems1, Didactic material provided on STUDIUM website 
7Natural control and biological control strategies in the main agro-ecosystems: citrus orchard, vineyard, olive grove, fruit trees, open field and protected vegetables1, 3, 4, Didactic material provided on STUDIUM website 
INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT OF ARTHROPOD PESTS
 ArgomentiRiferimenti testi
1Citrus1, 3, 5, 6, Didactic material provided on Studium  
2Olive1, 5, 6, Didactic material provided on Studium 
3Grape1, 2, 5, 6, Didactic material provided on Studium  
4Pome and stone fruits1, 5, 6, Didactic material provided on Studium 
5Protected vegetables1, 5, 6, Didactic material provided on Studium 
6Open field vegetables and arable crops1, 5, 6, Didactic material provided on Studium 
7Exotic invasive insect pests1, 4, 6, Didactic material provided on Studium 
8Insecticide (eco)toxicology5, 6, Didactic material provided on STUDIUM 

Verifica dell'apprendimento

Modalità di verifica dell'apprendimento

  • BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF ARTHROPOD PESTS

    The learnig assessment is arranged in two parts: an exam during the class period and another one after the class end. As for the first one, a single student or a small group of students will give a presentation in English on a topic previously selected in agreement with the professor. The final exam consists of an individual oral interview where the specific knowledge and skills gained by students will be evaluated. In addition, students must demonstrate the ability to correlate the topics of the two modules of the integrated course.

  • INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT OF ARTHROPOD PESTS

    The exam is composed by two main steps: an exam during the class period and another after the class end. The first is represented by a talk given in English, by a single student or by a small group of students, on a selected topic previously agreed with the professor. The final exam is an individual oral interview in which the student will discuss (i) about one of the scientific paper chosen by the student among those discussed during classes, (ii) about the integrated insect pest control strategies in an agroecosystem selected by the student, and then (iii) reply to two specific questions asked by the professor.


Esempi di domande e/o esercizi frequenti

  • BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF ARTHROPOD PESTS
    • Describe the main factors affecting the population dynamics of phytophagous arthropods in agro-ecosystems
    • Describe the main morfological and biological traits of Coccinellidae
    • Describe the morphological, biological and technical features of the imenopteran parasitoid Aphytis melinus and mirid predator Nesidiocoris tenuis
    • Describe the main rearing methods of the main entomophages used in crop protection
    • Describe the main available microbiological control agents and applications in Mediterranean agrosystems
    • Describe examples of habitat management applications
    • Describe organic control strategies in citrus and vineyards
  • INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT OF ARTHROPOD PESTS

    (i) Select and describe the state of the art, the aim, the main methods and results, as well as the conclusions of one of the scientific papers discussed during classes.

    (ii) Select and describe the biology, ecology and integrated pest control strategies implemented against the key pests of one of the agro-ecosystems discussed during classes.

    (iiia) Describe the biology, ecology and integrated pest control strategies implemented against the key pests of citrus.

    (iiib) Describe the biology, ecology and integrated pest control strategies implemented against key leafminer pests

    (iiia) Describe the biology, ecology and integrated pest control strategies implemented against the key pests of fruit crops.

    (iiib) Describe the biology, ecology and integrated pest control strategies implemented against key scale insect pests.

    (iiia) Describe the biology, ecology and integrated pest control strategies implemented against the key pests of protected vegetable crops.

    (iiib) Describe the biology, ecology and integrated pest control strategies implemented against key aphid pests.