79452 - Applied Entomology In Horticulture Crops

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course, students should acquire knowledge that enables them to: identify the key pest insects of the major horticultural crops and small fruit crops in mountain regions; understand of the pest complexes of the agro-ecosystems; have a broad idea of chemical ecology and tritrophic interaction amongst host plants, pests and their natural enemies; plan a monitoring program for pest insects; link sustainable agriculture with pest control; understand the fit of IPM in fruit cropping systems, with traditional and alternative control measures.

Course contents

The course is designed to provide graduate students with an overview of pest insects and pest management strategies, emphasizing ecological principles and their applications within the major agro-ecosystems of fruit trees cultivation. Pest insect biology and management of the fruit production systems in temperate regions will be considered, as apple, grape, cherry, plum, peach, strawberry and other small fruit. Specific attention will be given to beneficial insects, biological control and IPM strategies. The course will cover the following topics: Overview on general entomology; Key pest insect species of apple, grape, cherry, plum, peach, strawberry and other small fruit; Chemical ecology and Tritrophic interactions; Synthetic insecticides and Integrated Pest Management; Biological Control, Benefical Insects in Organic Farming and Botanical Insecticides; Pollination Services; Case topics selected by the students.

Readings/Bibliography

Aluja M., Leskey T.C., Vincent C. (Eds.) 2009 “Biorational Tree-Fruit Pest Management”, CABI Publishing, Wallingford, UK, 295 pp. ISBN: 1845934849. Heikki M.; Hokkanen T., Lynch J.M. (Eds.) 1996 “Biological Control - Benefits and Risks”, Cambridge University Press, UK, 326 pp. ISBN: 9789048126651. Koul O., Cuperus G.W., Rolff J. (Eds.) 2007 “Ecologically Based Integrated Pest Management”, CABI Publishing, Wallingford, UK, 462 pp. ISBN: 9781845930646. Lichtfouse E., Navarrete M., Debaeke P., Véronique S., Alberola C. (Eds.) 2007 “Sustainable Agriculture”, Springer, the Netherlands, 919 pp. ISBN: 9789048126651. Pedigo L.P., Rice M.E. 2009 “Entomology and pest management”, 6th Ed. Pearson Prentice Hall Upper Saddle River (NJ), 784 pp. ISBN: 0135132959.
Peshin R., Dhawan A.K. (Eds.) 2009 “Integrated Pest Management, Volume 2: Dissemination and Impact”, Springer, New York (NY), 634 pp. ISBN: 1402089899. Schowalter T.D. 2011 “Insect Ecology: An Ecosystem Approach”, 3rd Ed. Academic, San Diego (CA), 633 pp. ISBN: 0123813514

Teaching methods

Frontal lessons make up 60% of the time allotted to this course. The remaining 40% of the time is dedicated to lab- and field-activities, and visits

Assessment methods

There will be one final mark. Coursework will be weighted as follows: final written exam (70%), student seminar (15%) exercises and excursions (15%). It will not be possible to pass the course if the final written exam has a mark lower than 18.

Teaching tools

Frontal lessons using ppt presentations. Lab exercises with the use of scientific instruments. Field visits.

Office hours

See the website of Sergio Angeli