INSETTI, FUNGHI MICOTOSSIGENI E ALIMENTAZIONE

Module FUNGHI FITOPATOGENI E MICOTOSSINE

The teaching course aims to ensure to the students the basic tools and knowledge for the diagnosis of the main biotic alterations (from phytopathogenic fungi), abiotic and contamination from toxigenic fungi and their metabolites (mycotoxins) affecting the quality and quantity of plants in post-harvest and in storage; the student will acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to perform assessments, inspections and controls on the phytosanitary status of plant products at any stage of conservation, processing and marketing.

Exercises, seminars, and possible educational visits will always be aimed at identifying alterations caused by toxic and non-toxic fungi and, more generally, at developing problem-solving skills.

 

At the end of the course the student should develop Knowledge and understanding, making judgments, comunication as follow: 

 Knowledge and understanding - (Dublin 1)

At the end of the course the student must demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the main contents of the course.

How is it verified? Oral exam.

Applying knowledge and understanding - (Dublin 2)

At the end of the course the student must be able to identify the main contaminations by toxic and non-toxic fungi that affect plant productions in pre- and post-harvest, understand their symptoms, biology, epidemiology, and their relative control means. It will also have to be able to evaluate and interpret experimental and literature data.

 How is it verified? Oral exam.

Autonomy of judgment - (Dublin 3) 

At the end of the course the student must show to be able to formulate interpretative judgments based on the acquired knowledge, about research activities extrapolated from scientific publications.

How is it verified? Oral exam after illustration of a scientific publication

Communication skills - (Dublin 4) 

At the end of the course the student must demonstrate that he is able to choose and use the technical terminology appropriately, adapting his oral and written forms of communication to the required level and specific purposes; similarly, the student must demonstrate that he is able to analyze and synthesize a scientific publication and that he is able to present a paper to his/her colleagues.

How is it verified? Oral exam aimed to assess the student's ability to summarize a scientific article.

Lifelong learning skills - (Dublin 5)

At the end of the course the student must be able to keep their knowledge and skills up-to-date, grasping the fundamental and relevant aspects of the course for their professional context, in a legally, ethically and scientifically correct framework.

How is it verified? In part, with an oral interview.

Theoretical lessons for a total of 4 ECTS. Practical activities (seminars on known case studies, classroom and laboratory exercises, educational visits, etc.) for a total of 2 ECTS. If the teaching is given in a mixed or remote way, the necessary modifications may be introduced with respect to what was previously stated, in order to respect the program envisaged and reported in the present Syllabus. The achievement of the objectives will be pursued through lectures, seminars, exercises and excursions. For the lessons we will make use of the help of multimedia presentations, slides, computer databases, summary and explanatory diagrams that will allow you to deepen the basic concepts and fundamental notions of teaching. Any visits and educational excursions will also take place on other days and times to be agreed with the students by phone (095-7147413).

Information for Students with Disabilities and/or Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD)

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 Integration - Services for Disabilities and/or DSAs), in the person of professor Anna De Angelis.

Although it is not mandatory, the frequency of the lessons is highly recommended

General part
- Economic, historical, social and geographical consequences of fungal post-harvest diseases and in preharvest

- Concept of disease, symptoms and signs of disease, virulence, susceptibility, physiological alterations. Quantification of the susceptibility of hosts (plants and foodstuffs) to fungal pathogens and estimation of the virulence of a fungal pathogen; quantification of fungal inoculum;
- The classification of phytopathogenic fungi (including toxigenic fungi): functional, evolutionary, nomenclature, fungal structures and identification;
- Fungal diseases: Characters of phytopathogenic fungi (including toxigenic fungi), structure and organization, nutrition, factors that influence the fungal development of post-harvest diseases, germination and dispersion of spores, reproduction of fungi: sexual and asexual spores. Biological cycle of fungal diseases and several forms of phytopathogenic fungal epidemics;
- Host-pathogen interaction: pathogen attack mechanisms and host defense mechanisms;
- Strategies, methods and means of control adopted against phytopathogenic fungal diseases of plants in pre- and post-harvest: physical means, chemical means, biological means, integrated management, pesticide residues.

Special part
- Fungal diseases: rot caused by genera; Botrytis, Gloeosporium, Penicillium, Aspergillus, Fusarium, Claviceps, Alternaria, Monilinia, Sclerotinia, Rhyzopus, Mucor, Colletotrichum; scab (Venturia spp.) from pome fruit warehouse.
- Main post-harvest abiotic diseases
- The main species of fungi producing mycotoxins and main mycotoxins contaminating food products of vegetable origin;
- Characteristics of mycotoxins, main groups and methods of mycotoxin determination, prevention and control mean against post-harvest vegetable mycotoxin contamination, legislative aspects;
Exercises: symptomatic diagnosis of phytopathological samples, isolation of fungi in culture, preparation and observation of fungal preparations under an optical microscope; traditional and molecular techniques for the identification of plant phytopathogenic fungi; in vivo pathogenicity tests of phytopathogenic fungi; indoor environmental monitoring techniques (air / surface matrices) for the isolation and identification of phytopathogenic microorganisms; quantification of the damage of a fungal disease.

1. De Cicco V., Bertolini P., Salerno M.G. Patologia post-raccolta dei prodotti vegetali. Piccin Ed. 2008.

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

Teaching material and lectures supplied by the professor during the course

Other texts:

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

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

Learning evaluation will be assessed by oral examinations. No checks in progress are foreseen. A single meeting is planned in the middle 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 vote follows the scheme below:

Unsuitable

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

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

Use of references: Completely inappropriate

18-23

Knowledge and understanding of the topic: Medium level. Presence of some imperfections

Analysis and synthesis skills: Sufficient skills

Use of references: appropriate

24-26

Knowledge and understanding of the topic: Good knowledge

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

Use of references: Use standard references

27-30

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 explored the topics

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.

1. Characteristics of phytopathogenic fungi

 2. Main fungal pathogens of food commodities in post-harvest

 3. Major genera of fungi producing mycotoxins

 4. The main mycotoxins in pre-harvest and postharvest"