97299 - Plant Disease Control in Nursery Gardening

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student is able to deal with the specific phytosanitary problems of ornamental plants, both in greenhouses/tunnels and outdoors. In relation to the different characterizations assumed by the environmental conditions depending on whether production takes place indoors or in the open air, the student is also able to visually recognize the main diseases and to indicate the specific diagnostic techniques to be adopted. Based on the results obtained from the analysis, the student is able to suggest the control systems in a broad sense (understood as prevention and control of the symptoms) on the basis of the agricultural purposes that are proposed crops set up for production purposes, such as the precociousness of certain blooms aimed at marketing at certain times of the year (Christmas holidays, etc.), its abundance and uniformity, and more, purposes that lead to situations in which the multiple pathogenetic factors find a different way of operating. At the end of the course, the student is therefore able to critically relate to the needs, including economic, of the nursery gardening sector, developing appropriate strategic plans for the protection of the production.

Course contents

Prerequisites

The student who accesses this teaching is in possession of a good preparation in the fundamentals of plant physiology and plant cell constitution and its functioning. He necessarily knows the general aspects of plant pathology and the symptomatology and biology of the main pathogens affecting the most important species in the floriculture sector. This knowledge and skills are acquired during the courses of the first and second years.

Contents

The protection of plants against harmful organisms: the framework of the problem and general aspects (technical, economic, toxicological, environmental, political, regulatory); the peculiarities of the ornamental plants disease control.

Methods of control of plants from diseases, with particular regard to ornamental plants:

a. evolution and current trends

b. the means of control: general framework for the different areas of protection, undesirable secondary aspects on non-target species and environment

c. in-depth analysis of means and methods to control diseases: agronomic, physical, genetic, biological, chemical

d. Integrated Pest Management (IPM): general aspects and specificities in the different sectors, the new European regulatory scenario

e. the national and European legislative framework, with particular reference to the Directive on the sustainable use of plant protection products and EC Regulation 1107/2009

f. the Italian plant health organisation

Acquired Knowledge

• Knowledge of the overall picture of the problem of plant protection
• Knowledge of the characteristics of natural and synthetic control means, including undesirable secondary aspects
• Knowledge of recent trends towards sustainable control models related to different production systems (integrated and biological)
• Knowledge of the new European and national regulatory scenario of plant protection
• Knowledge, in particular, of defence strategies against the main diseases of ornamental plants

Practice excercises

In addition to the lectures in the classroom (for a total of 33 hours) also composed of seminars held by experts, practical exercises will be carried out at the greenhouse of Plesso Scarabelli of Imola. As part of the greenhouse exercises (for a total of 7 hours) will be held practical exercises aimed at integrating the knowledge of the means of direct struggle provided in the lectures, with particular regard to the toxicity and safety aspects of plant protection products. There will also be visits to nursery facilities, green areas and gardens in agreement with teachers of other courses in order to provide a more complete picture of the scenarios in the different productive and/or leisure realities.

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At the end of the course the student is able to critically relate to the current needs of plant protection of the ornamental green.

Readings/Bibliography

- Presentations in .pdf made available by the teacher 

- MALATTIE DELLE PIANTE ORNAMENTALI (A. Garibaldi, D. Bertetti, S. Rapetti, M. L. Gullino - Ed. Edagricole, 2021)

- LA DIFESA DELLE PIANTE ORNAMENTALI (A. Pollini - Ed. Edagricole, 2021) 

-TAPPETI ERBOSI, Costruzione e manutenzione (F. veronesi, P. Croce, A. De Luca, M. Mocioni, F. S. Modestini, L. Russi, M. Volterrani - Ed. Edagricole, 2022)

Teaching methods

The course consists of frontal teaching in the classroom in which the teacher will address and interact with students on the content of the course with the help of power point presentations, films, specific practical examples on phytosanitary problems of particular interest to producers in the floricultural and ornamental sector. The lessons in the classroom will be accompanied by exercises in greenhouses and visits to specialized structures in the sector. This part of the course will also aim to test learning skills as well as critical and disease assessment skills for targeted applications.

Assessment methods

The teaching "Plant disease control in nursery gardening” (97299) held by prof. Marina Collina, is a part of the Integrated Course "Cultivation and control of ornamental plants" (97297) then the final assessment takes into account the level of knowledge and skills acquired by the student in relation to the contents of both the teaching on plant disease control and the "Techniques of cultivation of ornamental plants" (97298) held by Prof. Maria Eva Giorgioni.

The learning test will be carried out independently of the two teachers of the integrated course, but the evaluation will be unique and corresponding to the average of the results achieved in the two courses. Registration will be made by Prof. M. E. Giorgioni.

The knowledge and skills imparted by this course will be evaluated through an oral interview consisting of 3 questions aimed at establishing not only the acquisition of the teaching content but also to estimate the critical skills gained by the student together with the possession of an expressive mastery indicating an adequate knowledge of the specific language.

Teaching tools

PC and projector for class lectures, learning journey, teaching material

Office hours

See the website of Marina Collina