FOOD PATHOLOGY AND PARASITOLOGY

Module POSTHARVEST PATHOLOGY OF PLANT PRODUCTS

The teaching will be scheduled with lectures and  and laboratory exercises 

Students are expected to actively participate both during the course of the lectures and during the laboratory activities. In addition, students will be asked to prepare a report on a monographic topic, chosen in agreement with the lecturer, to be presented in the course of the lectures after preparing a power point. This will enable students to acquire a series of knowledge relating to the following aspects: a) carrying out bibliographic research by consulting articles and websites on the chosen topic, taking care to select the most reliable bibliographic sources; b) preparing a report on the basis of a well-drawn outline; c) preparing a power point by choosing suitable images and structuring the slides appropriately; d) presenting in public by answering the lecturer's questions and respecting the presentation time.

Finally, the students will be accompanied along a learning path in the laboratory. Each of them will be proposed to acquire knowledge of some technical laboratory activities related to a particular topic with the aim of making them autonomous in the laboratory. At the end of this path, they will be given a learning test.

 

INDEPENDENCE OF JUDGEMENT

Students will be accompanied by the lecturer along a path of knowledge and learning that will enable them to acquire autonomy of judgement through the planning of theoretical-practical activities, such as the analysis of a scientific article and the application of laboratory protocols to answer technical questions. They will be asked to solve phytopathological problems (symptomatic plant samples) based on the knowledge acquired during the course.

COMMUNICATIVE SKILLS and LEARNING SKILLS

Students' communication skills are an aim of the course. In fact, the lecturer will propose to analyse a monographic topic. Students will have to prepare a report and a ppt presentation answering precise analytical questions. This individual study will then be presented in the classroom and the lecturer will stimulate critical discussion of the data presented. For the preparation of the paper, it will be necessary to sharpen the students' ability to learn and deepen their knowledge of the proposed topic.

At the end of the course, the student will be able to deal independently with issues related to the topics covered in the course as he/she will have acquired a method of study and research and possible strategies for solving them. The communication skills they have honed will enable them to deal productively with the world of work.

  

 

 

The teaching will be organised in classroom lectures (42h) and laboratory exercises (14h) as well as educational visits to companies in different sectors of the agri-food industry organised ad hoc during the semester in question.

If the course is taught in an online learning mode, the necessary variations may be introduced with respect to what was previously stated, in order to comply with the Syllabus.

 

As a guarantee of equal opportunities and in compliance with the laws in force, interested students may request a personal interview in order to plan any compensatory and/or dispensatory measures, according to their educational objectives and specific needs.

You can also contact the CInAP (Centre for Active and Participatory Inclusion - Services for Disabilities and/or DSA) contact person in our department, Professors Giovanna Tropea Garcia and Anna De Angelis.

PREREQUISITES REQUIRED

POST-HARVEST PATHOLOGY OF PLANT PRODUCTS

Basic knowledge of microbiology, plant biology, general chemistry are important for understanding the teaching content.

LESSON ATTENDANCE

POST-HARVEST PATHOLOGY OF PLANT PRODUCTS

Strongly recommended. Attendance at the lectures is not compulsory for taking the examination, but it is advisable to contact the lecturer for updates on the course of the lectures.

COURSE PROGRAMMING

The course aims to provide students with the necessary tools for the diagnosis of the main biotic, abiotic and mycotoxin contaminations that alter the quality and quantity of post-harvest and storage plants as well as the prevention and control criteria and methods applicable in post-harvest.

 

POST-HARVEST PATHOLOGY OF PLANT PRODUCTS

Topics Text references

1. Introduction: concept of disease; symptomatology and

classification of diseases; generalities on pathogens of

plants; disease cycle. Text 2 Material provided by the lecturer

2. Host-pathogen interaction in fungal diseases and

bacteria: mechanisms of pathogen attack,

host resistance mechanisms. Text 2 Material provided by the lecturer

3. Diagnosis of diseases: the diagnostic procedure,

traditional and molecular diagnostic methods. Text 2 Materials provided by the lecturer

4. Principles of post-harvest plant disease control:

physical means, chemical means, biological means, combat

integrated. Text 1 Materials provided by the teacher

5. Fungal diseases: main post-harvest rots

(from Botrytis, Penicillium, Aspergillus etc.). Text 1 Material provided by the lecturer

6. Bacteria diseases: main bacteria diseases in post-harvest (Solanaceae, citrus, stone fruit). Text 1 Material provided by the lecturer

7. Rot by pectolytic bacteria in vegetable crops. Text 1 Material provided by the lecturer

8. Main abiotic diseases in post-harvest. Text 1 Material provided by the lecturer

9. Mycotoxins: toxigenic fungi and their epidemiology, main mycotoxins, prevention and control of mycotoxigenic fungi, case studies. Text 1 Material provided by the lecturer

10. Methods of culture isolation of fungi and bacteria, preparation and observation of fungal preparations at the

optical microscope. Text 2 Materials provided by the lecturer

11. Traditional and molecular techniques for the identification of plant pathogens. Text 2 Materials provided by the lecturer

 

REFERENCE TEXTS

POST-HARVEST PATHOLOGY OF PLANT PRODUCTS

The lecturer provides the necessary material for studying the topics covered through the

STUDIUM platform or by sending directly by e-mail. The student may consult any text in the field; the following texts are recommended for the study of the discipline:

 

Text 1: De Cicco V., Bertolini P., Salerno M.G. Post-harvest pathology of plant products.

Piccin Publisher, 274 pp.

Text 2: Belli G. Elements of plant pathology. Piccin Publisher, 475 pp.

Notes and monographs provided by the lecturer

 

OTHER TEACHING MATERIALS

POST-HARVEST PATHOLOGY OF PLANT PRODUCTS

The teaching material will be made available to the students, establishing from time to time the modalities of delivery, preferring the STUDIUM platform.

VERIFICATION OF LEARNING

WAYS OF VERIFYING LEARNING

The examination consists of a written test and an individual oral interview and involves testing the ability to reason and link the knowledge acquired in the various disciplines. If it is deemed appropriate, a test will be proposed at the end of each lesson to check the lecturer's ability to convey the information during the lesson and to fill in any gaps accordingly. In addition, students will be asked to elaborate on a monographic topic that will be covered in a specific report and presented in the classroom in the form of a ppt.

Assessment elements will be the relevance of the answers to the questions asked, the quality of the content, the ability to link with other topics covered in the syllabus, the ability to give examples, the technical language property and the student's overall expressive ability.

Verification of learning may also be carried out electronically, should conditions require it.

 

The vote follows the following pattern:

Unsuitable

Subject knowledge and understanding: Significant deficiencies. Significant inaccuracies

Analysis and synthesis skills: Irrelevant. Frequent generalisations. Inability to synthesise

Use of references: Completely inappropriate

 

18-20

Subject knowledge and understanding: At threshold level. Obvious imperfections

Capacity for analysis and synthesis: Barely sufficient capacity

Use of references: Barely appropriate

 

21-23

Knowledge and understanding of subject matter: Routine knowledge Ability to analyse and synthesise: Is able to analyse and synthesise correctly. Argues logically and coherently

Use of references: Use standard references

 

24-26

Knowledge and understanding of subject matter: Good knowledge

Analysis and synthesis skills: Has good analysis and synthesis skills. Arguments are coherently expressed

Use of references: Use standard references

 

27-29

Knowledge and understanding of subject matter: More than good knowledge

Ability to analyse and synthesise: Has considerable ability to analyse and synthesise

Use of references: Deepened topics

 

30-30L

Knowledge and understanding of subject matter: Excellent knowledge

Ability to analyse and synthesise: Has considerable analytical and synthesis skills.

Use of references: Important insights.

EXAMPLES OF FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS AND/OR EXERCISES

POST-HARVEST PATHOLOGY OF PLANT PRODUCTS

1) State the main differences between plant diseases of biotic/abiotic aetiology

2) Explain the different diagnostic methods that can be used to recognise the aetiology of a disease

of post-harvest plants

3) List the possibilities of chemical control of plant pathogens that can be used in the post-harvest period

4) Expose the main post-harvest plant diseases (e.g. wine, citrus

etc.).

5) Analysing health and hygiene risks related to the marketing/consumption of plants

contaminated with mycotoxins.