- Docente: Marco Bosco
- Credits: 3
- SSD: AGR/16
- Language: English
- Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
- Campus: Bologna
- Corso: Second cycle degree programme (LM) in International Horticultural Science (cod. 8883)
Learning outcomes
The course will provide the essential knowledge about the methods, application and the state of the art of plant and microbial biotechnologies including breeding for enhancing plant characteristics 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 practices.
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
IOL webpage.
Eventual gaps in microbiology should be promptly declared by e-mail, in order to obtain supplementary teaching materials.
Due to the inclusion in this course of wet-laboratory and field ativities, you are invited to previously attend the lab & field safety modules 1, 2 and 3. Check the availability of such modules on course website.
During wet-laboratories and field works, students must wear a lab coat and anti-slip shoes.
Contents
[Expected results: the student will know holobionts, coevolution, 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 plants
adapted for the terrestrial environment, will be dissected, as well as rhizosphere microbial biotechnologies for sustainable
plant breeding and probiotic inoculants production and
applications.
Readings/Bibliography
"Bacteria in Agrobiology: Plant Probiotics". Dinesh K. Maheshwari (Editor) Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg, 2012.
ISBN 978-3-642-27514-2 ISBN 978-3-642-27515-9 (eBook)
DOI 10.1007/978-3-642-27515-9 (available for reading at the Department library)
"Microbial Endophytes - Functional Biology and Applications" - 2020, ISBN: 9780128196540 (available for reading at the Department library)
"Microbiome Stimulants for Crops: Mechanisms and Applications". White et al. 2021. ISBN: 9780128221228 (soon available for reading at the Department library)
“Principles and Applications of Soil Microbiology”. Sylvia, Fuhrmann, Hartel, Zuberer. Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, N.J., 1998. (available for reading at the Department library)
"Working with mycorrhizas in forestry and agriculture" Brundrett et al. 2008. (available for reading at the Department library)
• For some topics and for wet laboratory practice, additional materials would be accessible on the University of Bologna platform Virtuale [https://virtuale.unibo.it/?lang=en] for students enrolled in the presnt course. Such materials should be downloaded or printed for use during the lessons.
Teaching methods
This lecture is given at the Bologna site, by professor's powerpoint presentations, eventually integrated by specialists' seminars and technical visits.
Students with Learning Disorders or Disabilities are kindly invited to contact the specific Service and/or the professor, with adequate advance notice.
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 some laboratory experiences or collective analyses on case-studies, intended to deepen students' knowledge, experimental design on biotechnology of plant-probiotic microorganisms, or sampling and analytical methods.
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. Practical aspects of field- and benchwork will not be considered for exam final note.
Each question is evaluated a maximum of 30 points. Final note will be calculated by the mean of the three questions.
Students with Learning Disorders or Disabilities are kindly invited to contact the specific Service and/or the teacher, with an appropriate advance notice.
Teaching tools
Internet-connected PC, video 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
SDGs
This teaching activity contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN 2030 Agenda.