B3282 - Plantation, Harvest and Transformation of Officinal Plants

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student acquires basic knowledge on the subjects of agronomy and crop science of a representative set of medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) that can be grown in temperate climates. In particular, the student is able to understand and make operational choices related to the cultivation management of MAPs intended for the different end-use sectors (aromatic, biocidal, dyeing, cosmetic, medicinal, nutraceutical, textile and agrofunctional) with the necessary awareness. In addition, the student acquires knowledge of the main harvest and post-harvest techniques of MAPs, so that he/she can make operational choices in relation to the quality standards required by the specific production sector. The student is able to understand the quality characteristics of MAPs, their intrinsic problems in relation to harvesting and post-harvest techniques.

Course contents

Contents of theoretical teaching units

The course is organized into two modules.

Module 1 - Cultivation of medicinal plants (3 CFU)
Medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs): definition, origins and historical evolution

Genetic resources, biodiversity conservation (in situ, ex situ, on farm), genetic improvement and varietal establishment, innovative techniques (in vitro culture, genetic transformation) applied to MAPs productions

Propagation and nursery: propagation material, seed certification, agamic propagation, plant nursery in MAPs productions

Field cultivation: principles of general Agronomy (cycle and needs of crop plants; climate and soil; soil tillage; fertilization; cropping care; irrigation and drainage; weed control, disease and pest defense), production protocols (conventional, organic, integrated).

Soilless and protected crop cultivation: general concepts, critical issues and advantages, applications to medicinal plants.

Origin and distribution; botanical description; cultivation technique of a representative set of medicinal species of herbal and ornamental interest

Module 2 - Harvesting and first processing of medicinal plants (3 CFU)
The following topics will be covered:
- agroecosystem, quantitative and qualitative yields
- the biogenetic pathways of plant active ingredients (primary and secondary metabolism) and their ecological role;
- the quality of medicinal plants and drugs (with reference to natural endogenous and exogenous factors, and technical factors);
the concept of balsamic time;
- the main harvesting techniques (wild and cultivated officinal plants);
- the post-harvest (fresh and dry processing);
- The quality and quality control of products derived from medicinal plants.

Harvesting and post-harvest management of a representative set of MAPs species of herbal and ornamental interest.

The practical teaching unit consists of:

- visits to companies that produce MAPs in order to deepen from a practical point of view the concepts, related to cultivation, harvesting and post-harvesting exposed in the classroom lectures.

- practical laboratory experimentation (evaluation of the content of active ingredients of some officinal specie

Readings/Bibliography

Catizone, P., Barbanti, L., Marotti, I., Dinelli, G. Produzione ed Impiego delle Piante Officinali, Pàtron Editore, 2013.

Nicola S., Scarpa G.M. Le piante officinali: produzione e prima trasformazione. Edagricole, 2022.

Slide shown during the lessons. Notes from the lessons.

Teaching methods

The course is organized in lectures with illustrative slide shows. Outdoor activities may be organized in connection with special events (conferences, etc.) and visits to companies in the medicinal and aromatic plnats sector. Practical exercises at laboratories and greenhouses complete the course.

Assessment methods

The course is organized in two modules. Therefore, the evaluation of the course takes into account jointly the level of knowledge and skills acquired by the student in relation to the contents of both modules.

The assessment of learning takes place only through the final examination, which is aimed to verify the acquisition of expected knowledge and skills by a written test lasting 2 hours, without the aid of notes or books, not followed by an oral examination.

The test includes only open-ended responses, for a total of 12 questions. The test does not concern the practical parts

Teaching tools

Blackboard, video-projector, personal computer, web access, laboratories, greenhouses. All lectures are supported by PowerPoint slides.

Office hours

See the website of Ilaria Marotti