MICOLOGIA E VIROLOGIA VEGETALE
Module MICOLOGIA VEGETALE

Academic Year 2022/2023 - Teacher: ALESSANDRO VITALE

Expected Learning Outcomes

The teaching course aims to ensure the acquisition of basic knowledge of taxonomy, biological aspects and diagnostic criteria of the "key" phytopathogenic fungi. The student will acquire skills in identifying some effective management indications both in the nursery and in the open field and in professional updating for this area.

Exercises and seminars will always be aimed to identifying the fungal disease and, comprehensively, to the ability to problem solving.

Expected Learning Outcomes according to the Dublin Descriptors:

a. Knowledge and understanding: Provide basic skills and knowledge of diagnostic, taxonomic, symptomatology, biological aspects and basic key of the management of phytopathogenic fungi;

b. Applied knowledge and understanding: acquire skills by using all the above information and notions in order to be able to identify the fungal pathogen, to learn relative symptoms and biology, some useful indications of sustainable management in the nursery and in the field and, in addition, a professional updating way.

c. Autonomy of judgment: to be able to give an phenomena interpretation weightened for all the single aspects of plant mycology; to be able to draw information related to phytopathological issues starting from the known aspects; to be able to elaborate evaluations in full autonomy on phytopathogenic fungal diseases.

d. Communication skills: communicate and describe the plant mycology aspects and phenomena, using correct technical terminology.

e. Ability to learn: understanding of the topics both in groups and alone; to be able to connect not only the topics of the course among them, but also to individuate connections among the topics covered in this discipline and in others disciplines.

Course Structure

Teaching course includes theoretical lessons for a total of 28 hours and other practical activities (classroom and laboratory exercises, educational visits, seminars, etc.) for also a total of 28 hours. If teaching is given in a mixed formula or remotely, necessary changes may be introduced to what was previously stated in order to comply with the provided and reported syllabus. Frontal lessons and lectures, exercises and educational visits. For the lessons we will make use of multimedia presentations, slides, computer databases, summary and explanatory diagrams in paper format that will allow us a better undertsanding of the basic concepts and the basics of phytopathological mycology. The laboratory exercises will be aimed at the recognition of diseases and the identification of fungal pathogens. Field visits and educational excursions will take place on other days and times to be agreed with the students by phone (095-7147413). Learning assessment can be done remotely if necessary.

As guarantee of equal opportunities and in compliance with current laws, interested students can ask for a personal interview in order to plan any compensatory and/or dispensatory measures, based on their specific needs and on teaching objectives of the discipline. It is also possible to ask the departmental contacts of CInAP (Center for Active and Participatory Inclusion - Services for Disabilities and/or DSAs), in the persons of professors Giovanna Tropea Garzia and Anna De Angelis.

Detailed Course Content

Mycology in Plant Pathology

* Topics Text 
*1. Importance of fungal diseases: economic, historical, social and geographical consequences; examples of devastating fungal diseases in history Lectures;
Text 1 chap 1 Text 3 chap 1
*2. The infected plant: concept of plant disease, classification criteria
of diseases, pathological morphology, symptomatology, anatomy
pathological, physiological and functional alterations; quantification of the fungal inoculum, quantification of the symptoms of a fungal disease; determination of varietal susceptibility to a fungal disease and virulence level of a fungal pathogen
Lectures;
Text 1 chap 2, 5; Text 3 chap 6
*3. Fungal diseases: General characters of fungi, structure
and vegetative organization, fungal hypha, nutrition, influence
of the environment on fungal development, germination and spore dispersal, reproduction of fungi: sexual and asexual spores;
main symptomatic expressions; types of fungal diseases
Lectures;
Text 2 chap 5 Text 3 chap 2
*4. The classification of phytopathogenic fungi: classification
taxonomic and other classifications, general characters, nomenclature, fungal structures, identification, optical and electronic microscopy, culture isolation, use of indicator plants, serodiagnosis, molecular diagnosis

Lectures; 

Text 1 chap 3, 12; Text 2 chap 5, 6; Text 3 chap 2; Text 4: chap 11

*5. Parasitism in phytopathogenic fungi: relationship between organisms, ecological relationships, symbiotic relationships: mutualism, commensalism and pathosism; trophic relationships in parasitism, parasitic specialization Lectures;
Text 1 chap 4 Text 3 chap 1
*6. Life cycle of fungal diseases: epidemiology and factors affecting the development of epidemics, different forms of epidemic and consequent control strategies Lectures;
Text 2 chap 5; Text 3 chap 6; Text 4 chap 11
*7. Attack mechanism of phytopathogenic fungi: the 
infection process: i) initial contact, ii) penetration mechanisms, iii) colonization mechanisms (biotrophic colonization and
necrotrophic colonization), iv) fungal evasion
Lectures;
Text 1 chap 6; Text 2 chap 5; Text 3 chap 5, 6 
*8. Toxigenic fungi and mycotoxins Lectures
Text 1 chap 12 (tab square 12.1); Text 2 chap 13; Text 3 chap 5, 8
*9. Phytopathogenic quarantine fungi

Lectures

Text 3 chap 7

*10. Fungi used in biological control of plant diseases Lectures
*11. Control of fungal diseases: efficacy of control means in laboratory; disease control strategies or approaches, control methods and means in the field; fungicide application and fungicide resistance; Control of soilborne fungi Lectures;

Text 1 chap 9 Text 3 chap 7

*12. Websites of mycological interest Lectures
13. Kingdom Protozoa: diseases caused by Plasmodiophoromycota Lectures;
Text 1 chap 12 Text 4 chap 11
*14. Kingdom Chromista: diseases caused by Oomycota, general characters and identification. Plasmopara viticola, Phytophthora infestans, P. citrophthora e P. nicotianae and other phytopatogenic Pythium spp., Bremia spp., Peronospora spp. and Pseudoperonospora spp. Lectures;
Text 1 chap 12 Text 3 chap 8 Text 4 chap 11
15. Kingdom Fungi: disease caused by Chytridiomycota Lectures;
Text 1 chap 12 Text 3 chap 8 Text 4 chap 11
16. Kingdom Fungi: diseases caused by Zygomycota, general characters and identification. Rhyzopus stolonifer Lectures;
Text 1 chap 12 Text 3 chap 8 Text 4 chap 11
*17. Kingdom Fungi: diseases caused by Ascomycota, general characters and identification. Taphrina deformans, Venturia inaequalis, Glomerella cingulata (Colletotrichum), Penicillium spp., Erysiphe necator, Leveillula taurica, Sphaeroteca pannosa, Blumeria graminis, Claviceps purpurea, Chryphonectria parasitica, Botrytis cinerea, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Monilinia fructigena, Monilinia laxa, Monilinia fructicola, Monosporascus cannonballus, Mycosphaerella spp.; Lectures;
Text 1 chap 12 Text 3 chap 8 Text 4 chap 11
*18. Kingdom Fungi: diseases caused by Basidiomycota, general characters and identification. Armillaria mellea, Ustilago maydis, Puccinia spp,Sclerotium rolfsii, Rhizoctonia solani Lectures;
Text 1 chap 12 Text 3 chap 8 Text 4 chap 11
*19 Mitosporic fungi - Diseases caused by mitosporic fungi (Fungi Imperfecti): general characters and identification: Plenodomus tracheiphilus, Spilocea oleagina, Fusicladium (Spilocea) eryobotriae,
Seiridium cardinale, Verticillium albo-atrum, F. oxysporum f.sp. radicis-lycopersici, Alternaria solani
Lectures;
Text 4: chap 11
20. Laboratory exercises: Isolation in pure culture of pathogens
fungi; identification of some of the most important of phytopathogenic fungi; obtaining monoconidic (monosporic) cultures (colonies)
 
21. Laboratory exercises: determination of the inoculum level in the soil; determination of concentration of fungal propagules; observation of the reproductive structures of fungi with an optical microscope and a stereomicroscope  
22. Laboratory exercises: use of mating types for 
diagnostics purposes; preparation and phases of freeze-drying fungi;  in vitro efficacy of fungicides against target fungal pathogens
.
 

* Essential knowledge that can not be renounced for passing the examination.

N.B. The knowledge of the topics marked with an asterisk is a necessary but not sufficient condition for passing the exam. Responding sufficiently or even more than enough to the questions on these topics does not, therefore, ensure that the exam is passed.

Textbook Information

1. Matta A. Fondamenti di Patologia Vegetale. Patron Editore, Bologna, seconda edizione 2017.

2. Belli G. Elementi di Patologia Vegetale. Editore Piccin, Padova, seconda edizione 2012.

3. Vannacci G. Patologia vegetale. Edises Università, Napoli prima edizione 2021

4. Agrios G.N. Plant Pathology (5th edition). Academic Press, New York

Other texts

- Deacon J.W. Micologia moderna. Calderini, Edagricole.

- Goidanich G., Manuale di Patologia vegetale. Edagricole Bologna. vol. I-IV.

- Hartman G. Atlante delle malattie delle piante. Franco Muzzio Editore, Padova

Teaching material and lectures supplied by the professor during the course
Recommended sites: www.apsnet.org.

Course Planning

 SubjectsText References
1*1. Importanza delle malattie fungine: conseguenze economiche, storiche, sociali e geografiche delle malattie fungine; esempi di malattie fungine devastanti nella storiaAppunti lezioni; Testo 1 cap 1; Testo 3 cap 1
2*2. La pianta malata: concetto di malattia, criteri di classificazione delle malattie, morfologia patologica, sintomatologia, anatomia patologica, alterazioni fisiologiche e funzionali; quantificazione dell'inoculo fungino, quantificazione dei sintomi di una malattia fungina; determinazione della suscettibilità varietale ad una malattia fungina e della virulenza di un patogeno fungino Appunti lezioni; Testo 1 cap 2, 5; Testo 3 cap 6
3*3. Le malattie fungine: Caratteristiche generali dei funghi, struttura ed organizzazione vegetativa, l'ifa fungina, la nutrizione, l'influenza dell'ambiente sullo sviluppo fungino, germinazione e dispersione delle spore, riproduzione dei funghi: spore sessuali e asessuali; principali espressioni sintomatologiche; tipologie di malattie fungineAppunti lezioni; Testo 2 cap 5; Testo 3 cap 2
4*4. La classificazione dei funghi fitopatogeni: inquadramento tassonomico e classificazione, caratteri generali, nomenclatura, strutture fungine, identificazione, microscopia ottica ed elettronica, isolamento in coltura, impiego di piante indicatrici, sierodiagnosi, diagnosi molecolareAppunti lezioni; Testo 1 cap 3, 12; Testo 2 cap 5, 6; Testo 3 cap 2; Testo 4 cap 11;
5*5. Parassitismo nei funghi fitopatogeni: relazione tra gli organismi, relazioni ecologiche, relazioni simbiotiche: mutualismo, commensalismo e patosismo; rapporti trofici nel parassitismo, specializzazione parassitariaAppunti lezioni; Testo 1 cap 4; Testo 3 cap 1
6*6. Ciclo di sviluppo delle malattie fungine: epidemiologia e fattori che influiscono sullo sviluppo delle epidemie, forme diverse di epidemia e conseguenti strategie di difesaAppunti lezioni; Testo 2 cap 5; Testo 3 cap 6; Testo 4 cap 11
7*7. Meccanismo di attacco dei funghi fitopatogeni: il processo d'infezione: i) il contatto iniziale, ii) i meccanismi di penetrazione, iii) i meccanismi di colonizzazione (colonizzazione biotrofica e colonizzazione necrotrofica), iv) l'evasione funginaAppunti lezioni; Testo 1 cap 6; Testo 2: cap 5; Testo 3 cap 5, 6
8*8. Funghi tossigeni e micotossineAppunti lezioni; Testo 1 cap 12 (quadro 12.1); Testo 2 cap 13; Testo 3 cap 5, 8
9*9. Funghi fitopatogeni da quarantenaAppunti lezioni; Testo 3 cap 7
10*10. Funghi utilizzati nel controllo biologico delle malattie delle pianteAppunti lezioni
11*11. Lotta alle malattie fungine: efficacia di mezzi di lotta in laboratorio; strategie o approcci di lotta, principi, metodi e mezzi di difesa in campo; l’utilizzo dei fungicidi e la resistenza ai fungicidi; lotta ai patogeni tellurici (soilborne)Appunti lezioni; Testo 1 cap 9; Testo 3 cap 7
12*12. Siti web di interesse micologicoAppunti lezioni;
1313. Regno Protozoa: malattie causate da PlasmodiophoromycotaAppunti lezioni; Testo 1 cap 12; Testo 4 cap 11
14*14. Regno Chromista: malattie causate da Oomycota generalità e riconoscimento. Plasmopara viticola, Phytophthora infestans, P. citrophthora e P. nicotianae ed altre specie fitopatogene, Pythium spp., Bremia spp., Peronospora spp. e Pseudoperonospora spp.Appunti lezioni; Testo 1 cap 12; Testo 3 cap 8; Testo 4 cap 11
1515. Regno Fungi: malattie causate da ChytridiomycotaAppunti lezioni; Testo 1 cap 12; Testo 3 cap 8; Testo 4 cap 11
1616. Regno Fungi: malattie causate da Zygomycota generalità e riconoscimento. Rhyzopus stoloniferAppunti lezioni; Testo 1 cap 12; Testo 3 cap 8; Testo 4 cap 11
17*17. Regno Fungi: malattie causate da Ascomycota generalità e riconoscimento. Taphrina deformans, Venturia inaequalis, Glomerella cingulata (Colletotrichum), Penicillium spp., Erysiphe necator, Leveillula taurica, Sphaeroteca pannosa, Blumeria graminis, Claviceps purpurea, Chryphonectria parasitica, Botrytis cinerea, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Monilinia fructigena, Monilinia laxa, Monilinia fructicola, Monosporascus cannonballus, Mycosphaerella spp.;Appunti lezioni; Testo 1 cap 12; Testo 3 cap 8; Testo 4 cap 11
18*18. Regno Fungi: malattie causate da Basidiomycota generalità e riconoscimento. Armillaria mellea, Ustilago maydis, Puccinia spp, Sclerotium rolfsii, Rhizoctonia solaniAppunti lezioni; Testo 1 cap 12; Testo 3 cap 8; Testo 4 cap 11
19*19 Funghi mitosporici - Malattie causate da funghi mitosporici (raggr. Fungi Imperfecti): generalità e riconoscimento. Phoma tracheiphila, Spilocea oleagina, Fusicladium (Spilocea) eryobotriae, Seiridium cardinale, Verticillium albo-atrum, F. oxysporum f.sp. radicis-lycopersici, Alternaria solaniAppunti lezioni; Testo 4 cap 11
2020. Esercitazioni di laboratorio: Isolamento in coltura pura di patogeni fungini; identificazione di alcuni dei più importanti generi di funghi fitopatogeni; ottenimento colture monoconidiche
2121. Esercitazioni di laboratorio: determinazione della carica microbica nel terreno; determinazione concentrazione di una sospensione conidica fungina; osservazione delle strutture riproduttive dei funghi al microscopio ottico ed allo stereomicroscopio
2222. Esercitazioni di laboratorio: utilizzo dei mating types a fini diagnostici; preparazione e fasi di liofilizzazione dei funghi; prove di efficacia in vitro dei fungicidi nei confronti dei patogeni fungini bersaglio.

Learning Assessment

Learning Assessment Procedures

Learning evaluation will be assessed by oral examinations. No checks in progress are foreseen. A single meeting is planned in the mid of course to ascertain the learning level and the interest degree of the students with clarification of doubts. The evaluation of the student's preparation will take place on the basis of the following criteria: learning ability and level of depth of the topics covered, quality of the contents, ability to connect with other topics covered within the program, properties of synthesis and exposure, ability to report practical examples and student's reasoning skills.

Verification of learning can also be carried out by online way if it will be necessary.

The score assignment follows the adopted scheme:

Not suitable for passing examination

Knowledge and understanding of the topic: Heavy shortcomings. Significant inaccuracies

Ability to analyze and synthesize: Irrelevant. Frequent generalizations. Inability to synthesize

Use of references: Completely inappropriate

18-20

Knowledge and understanding of the topic: At the threshold level. Obvious imperfections

Analysis and synthesis skills: Just enough skills

Use of references: As appropriate

21-23

Knowledge and understanding of the topic: Routine knowledge Analysis and synthesis skills: It is capable of correct analysis and synthesis. Argue logically and consistently

Using references: Use standard references

24-26

Knowledge and understanding of the topic: Good knowledge

Analysis and synthesis skills: Has good analysis and synthesis skills. The topics are expressed consistently

Using references: Use standard references

27-29

Knowledge and understanding of the topic: Knowledge more than good

Ability to analyze and synthesize: He has considerable abilities of analysis and synthesis

Use of references: Has well explored the topics

30-30L

Knowledge and understanding of the topic: Excellent knowledge

Ability to analyze and synthesize: He has considerable abilities of analysis and synthesis.

Use of references: Important insights. 

Examples of frequently asked questions and / or exercises

1. Main fungal pathogens with soilborne habitus

2. Main airborne fungal pathogens

3. Classification criteria for phytopathogenic fungi

4. Parasitism in phytopathogenic fungi

5. Life cycle and attack ways in phytopathogenic fungi

6. Epidemiological aspects of plant fungal pathogens

7. Diagnostic aspects of plant fungal diseases

8. Main diseases caused by Oomycetes, Zygomycetes, Ascomycetes, Basidiomycetes and Deuteromycetes