79439 - Biotechnology Of Plant Probiotics

Learning outcomes

The course will provide the essential knowledge about the methods, applications of microbial biotechnologies, including the use of microbial competence of plants as a marker in plan breeding for enhancing sustainability and fitness.

A special focus will be paid on how plant-microbe interactions increase plant productivity, resistance and resilience to external stimuli.

Key concepts of plant holobiont, plant probiotic microorganisms and microbial biotechnologies will be introduced. This knowledge will provide to the students a scientific roadmap and the ability to exploit natural microbial resources for breeding sustainable varieties, reducing agrochemicals, decreasing the cost and improving the quality of horticultural crops.

Course contents

Essential requirements: students should hold propedeutical knowledge from almost 6 UFC of general microbiology.
They should know the biology and physiology of plants, agronomy, pedology, biological and agricultural chemistry,
and be familiar with chemical and biological laboratory practics. Students must know well the English oral and written
language, as all teaching activities are given in English, including readings and teacher's handouts published on the Unibo
AMS Campus webpage.

 Contents 
[Expected results: the student will know holobionts, plant probiotic microorganisms and microbial biotechnologies, the role of microorganisms in plant productivity, resistance and resilience. She/he will be able to manage plant-probiotics, in nursery and open field, to select plants on the basis of rhizosphere competence and to project new applications. She/he will be able to exchange microbiological data in scientific and technical ways adapted to the horticultural sector].
The course is designed to introduce master students in theoretical knowledge about the largely untapped approach that takes into account the rhizosphere competence of plants in the breeding procedures for crops.
Plant-probiotic microbial functions, those which render each plant a super-organism, will be dissected,
as well as rhizosphere microbial biotechnologies for sustainable plant breeding and probiotic inoculants production and applications.

Readings/Bibliography

"Rhizosphere: Achievements and Challenges" (2010). Dessaux, Hinsinger, Lemanceau (Eds.), Springer. ISBN: 9789048128556.
“Principles and Applications of Soil Microbiology”. Sylvia, Fuhrmann, Hartel, Zuberer. Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, N.J., 1998.

For some topics, highlighted by the teacher during the lecture, personal notes should be taken by the students; handout materials will be available for students on the Unibo AMS Campus website.

Teaching methods

This lecture is given at the Bologna site, by teacher's powerpoint presentations, eventually integrated by specialists' seminars and technical visits.
The lecture is composed by two units: the first is given by powerpoint presentations including examples and the relative scientific logics, with the aim to stimulating student's critical learning.
The second provides collective discussions on case-study or laboratory experiences, intended to deep students' knowledge, experimental design on biotechnology of plant-probiotic microorganisms. At the end, students may produce a written report.

Assessment methods

Achieved theoretical learning is assessed by a final exam, after the end of lecture schedule. It consists of an oral exam performed by the teacher, generally composed of three principal questions, and eventual other deeping/clarifying questions. The lenght of oral exam is generally about 30 minutes.

Students should demonstrate to know the theory and to be able to link lecture topics with technical problems of microbial biotechnology.

On students request, learning assessment can be a written exam which length is about one hour, generally composed of three questions.

For both types of exam, each question is evaluated a maximum of 30 points. Final note will be calculated by the mean of the three questions.

Teaching tools

Internet-connected PC, video projector, overhead projector, slide projector, white board.
Teaching laboratory instruments, teaching greenhouse.

Links to further information

http://www.unibo.it/docenti/marco.bosco

Office hours

See the website of Marco Bosco