B1825 - Sustainable Crop Production and Seed Technology

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student knows the principles of the production of herbaceous crops with interest in biotechnology. In particular, he knows the characteristics, environmental requirements and agronomic technique of herbaceous species belonging to different botanical families and suitable for supplying differentiated feedstocks (i.e. carbohydrates, cellulose, oils and fats, and proteins, etc.) for the biotech industry. Furthermore, the student knows the basic elements of biology and technology of seeds and the agronomic and genetic aspects of their production; understands the different aspects of semen quality, the factors that influence them and the analytical methods for their determination; knows the basics of varietal protection and the certification system.

Course contents

Module 1 (Sustainable vegetable productions)

Theoretical teaching unit (24h) Characteristics of the main plant species for biotech use: crops for the production of oil, lignocellulosic biomass, sugars, protein crops, crops for the production of high added value compounds (8h). General outline of sustainable agronomic management for the production of such feedstocks (4h). In-depth study of a species for each of the categories just mentioned that represents a success story at an industrial level (8h). Group work in which students will be entrusted with the task of identifying a future successful species and defining the best agronomic technique to optimize its production at a biotech level (4h). Teaching unit of exercises (16h) - Visit to the UNIBO experimental farm in Cadriano. - Technical visit to a company in the sector that uses some of the species covered in the course for its productions. - online seminars with foreign researchers, both EU and non-EU, who bring concrete examples of research on herbaceous species treated in class

 

Module 2 (Seed Technologies)

Theoretical teaching unit (24h) Importance of seed in modern agriculture. International panorama on seeds. The supply chain from the creation of the varieties to the commercialization of the seed. Flower induction, flower development, macro- and micro-gametogenesis, pollination. Seed development: fertilization, morphogenesis, maturation and desiccation. Seed physiology: quiescence, dormancy, germination. Deterioration and vigor of the seed. Ecological factors and agronomic aspects of seed crops. Floral biology and varietal constitutions. Maintaining the purity of the varieties. Strategies for the production of hybrid seeds: mechanical, chemical and genetic methods. Seed technology: collection, selection, conservation, priming and seed treatments. International and national regulations for the production and trade of seeds. Variety registers. Varietal protection in the UPOV system and biotechnological inventions. Seed certification: documentary aspects, field controls and laboratory analyzes for quality control. Didactic unit of exercises (16h) - Recognition of seeds of cereals and industrial species, vegetables, fodder. - Visit to the laboratory for sampling of seed lots and analysis of the physical, physiological and genetic quality of the seeds. - Use of software for statistical data processing in the field of seed analysis. - Visit to a seed plant or experimental fields for varietal constitution.

Readings/Bibliography

module 1

- Mosca, Giuliano, and Giuliano Mosca.Oli e grassi : fonti oleaginose per gli utilizzi food e non food. Edagricole, 2019.

- A. Monti. Switchgrass. A valuable biomass crop for energy. 2012. Springer

- S. Barth et al. Perennial Biomass crops for a resource-constrained world. 2016. Springer

- Slides and scientific articles provided during the course

 

module 2

- Egidio Ciriciofolo e Paolo Benincasa. 2017. Sementi. Biologia, produzione e tecnologia. Edagricole.

Dadlani, M. and Yadava, D.K. 2023. Seed Science and Technology - Biology, Production, Quality. Springer Nature Singapore.

- Slides and scientific articles provided during the course

 

Teaching methods

Lectures, tutorials, expert seminars, educational visits.

Assessment methods

Written exam with multiple open questions lasting 60 minutes for module 1 Oral exam of 30 minutes for module 2

Teaching tools

PC, projector, interactive communication systems (Wooclap, Menitmeter), laboratories, experimental fields

Office hours

See the website of Federica Zanetti

See the website of Enrico Noli