BIOLOGICAL CONTROL

Obiettivi formativi

• SUSTAINABLE PEST MANAGEMENT

  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

• APPLIED ENVIRONMENTAL PLANT PATHOLOGY

  The course aims to increase the knowledge regarding the biological control of plant pathogens in pre- and post- harvest environments. Particular attention will be paid to the selection strategies of the antagonists, their mode of action and potential applications to major crops and vegetables for the containment of the most significant pathogens in the rhizosphere, phyllosphere and in post-harvest.

Prerequisiti richiesti

• SUSTAINABLE PEST MANAGEMENT

  Basic knowledge on Entomology e Agricultural Zoology

• APPLIED ENVIRONMENTAL PLANT PATHOLOGY

  Basic Knowledge of Plant Pathology and Microbiology

Frequenza lezioni

• SUSTAINABLE PEST MANAGEMENT

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

• APPLIED ENVIRONMENTAL PLANT PATHOLOGY

  Frequency is not compulsory to hold exams, but it is strongly recommended to follow at least 70% of the didactic activities

Contenuti del corso

• SUSTAINABLE PEST MANAGEMENT
  1. Concepts on the population dynamics of arthropod pests and their natural enemies in natural and agricultural ecosystems
  2. Recognition 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
• APPLIED ENVIRONMENTAL PLANT PATHOLOGY

  1. Strategies of integrated and biological control.

  2. Microbial antagonists, isolation and selection modes, action mechanisms

  3. Antagonistic bacteria and “Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria”

  4. Antagonistic fungi and Trichoderma spp.

  5. Antagonistic yeasts and post-harvest biological control

  6. Bioformulations based on antagonistic fungi, bacteria, and yeast and substances of natural origin

  7. Models of biological control against pre- and post- harvest diseases of fruits, vegetables and forest plants.

Testi di riferimento

• SUSTAINABLE PEST MANAGEMENT

  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)

• APPLIED ENVIRONMENTAL PLANT PATHOLOGY

  1) Agrios G.N., 2005. Plant pathology, 5° ed., Elsevier Academic Press, S. Diego, U.S.A.

  2) Pandey A., Mukerji K.G.(Eds.) 2006. Biological Control of Plant Diseases ( 9781560223276)

  3) 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)

  4) Ciancio A., Mukerij K.G. (Eds). 2008. Integrated management of diseases caused by fungi, Phytoplasma and bacteria. (978-4020-8570-3)

Programmazione del corso

Verifica dell'apprendimento

Modalità di verifica dell'apprendimento

• SUSTAINABLE PEST MANAGEMENT

  The exam consists of an individual oral interview and involves checking the specific knowledge and skills gained under the discipline. In addition, the student must demonstrate the ability to correlate the topics of the two modules of the integrated course

• APPLIED ENVIRONMENTAL PLANT PATHOLOGY

  The exam consists of an individual oral interview that seeks to verify their acquired knowledge and skills, verifying the reasoning skills and linking the acquired knowledge.

Esempi di domande e/o esercizi frequenti

• SUSTAINABLE PEST MANAGEMENT
  • 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
• APPLIED ENVIRONMENTAL PLANT PATHOLOGY

  The final profit test consists of an oral exam during which the student will have to demonstrate the ability to correlate the topics of the course.