97299 - Plant Disease Control in Nursery Gardening

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student will be able to address the specific phytosanitary issues affecting ornamental plants, both in greenhouse/tunnel environments and in open-field conditions. Taking into account the varying environmental conditions depending on whether cultivation occurs indoors or outdoors, the student will be able to visually identify the main plant diseases and recommend the appropriate diagnostic techniques.

Based on the results of these analyses, the student will be capable of proposing comprehensive control strategies—including both preventive and symptomatic interventions—aligned with the agronomic goals of ornamental crop production. These goals may include the early blooming of certain plants for specific market windows (e.g., the Christmas season), as well as uniformity and abundance of flowering. Such objectives often create growing conditions that influence how various pathogenic factors manifest and interact.

Ultimately, the student will be able to critically assess the technical and economic demands of the nursery and ornamental plant sector, and develop effective strategic plans for protecting plant production.

Course contents

Prerequisites

Students enrolling in this course are expected to have a solid background in plant physiology and plant cell biology, including an understanding of cellular structure and function. They should also be familiar with the general principles of plant pathology, as well as the symptomatology and biology of the main pathogens affecting key floricultural species. These competencies are typically acquired during the first and second years of study.

Contents

Plant Protection against Harmful Organisms:

• General framework and key issues: technical, economic, toxicological, environmental, political, and regulatory aspects
• Specific challenges related to disease control in ornamental plants

Disease Control Methods in Ornamental Plants

a. historical development and current trends

b. Overview of available control methods: their scope, and potential adverse effects on non-target species and the environment

c. Detailed analysis of disease control approaches: agronomic, physical, genetic, biological, and chemical

d. Integrated Pest Management (IPM): general principles and sector-specific applications; the evolving European regulatory context

e. National and European legislation, with emphasis on the Directive on the sustainable use of plant protection products and EC Regulation No. 1107/2009

f. Overview of the Italian plant health system

Acquired Knowledge and Skills

• Understanding of the general context and challenges of plant protection
• Familiarity with the characteristics of natural and synthetic control methods, including their potential side effects
• Awareness of recent trends toward sustainable plant protection models, including integrated and organic systems
• Knowledge of the current European and national regulatory frameworks governing plant protection
• Specific expertise in strategies for managing the major diseases affecting ornamental plants

Practice excercises

In addition to classroom lectures, practical exercises will be conducted at the greenhouse of the Plesso Scarabelli in Imola. These hands-on sessions (totaling 5 hours) are designed to complement the theoretical knowledge provided during the lectures, with a focus on disease diagnosis and direct control methods.

Furthermore, field visits to nurseries, green spaces, and public or private gardens will be organized, in collaboration with instructors from other courses. These visits aim to offer students a broader perspective on plant health management across different production systems and recreational contexts.

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The student will develop the ability to evaluate and adapt plant protection measures for ornamental plants in both public and private green areas.

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 includes classroom-based lectures during which the instructor will present and discuss the course content with students, using PowerPoint presentations, video materials, and practical case studies related to phytosanitary issues of particular relevance to the floricultural and ornamental plant sectors.

Classroom lectures will be complemented by practical exercises conducted in greenhouses and by field visits to specialized facilities within the sector. These activities are designed not only to reinforce theoretical knowledge, but also to assess students' learning outcomes, as well as their critical thinking and disease evaluation skills for targeted and practical applications.

Assessment methods

The teaching module "Plant Disease Control in Nursery Gardening" (code: 97299), taught by Prof. Marina Collina, is part of the Integrated Course "Cultivation and Control of Ornamental Plants" (code: 97297). Therefore, the final assessment will take into account the knowledge and skills acquired by the student in relation to both this module and the companion course "Techniques of Cultivation of Ornamental Plants" (code: 97298), taught by Prof. Maria Eva Giorgioni and Prof. Giuseppina Pennisi.

The evaluation will be conducted independently by the instructors, but a single final grade will be recorded, calculated as the average of the results obtained in the individual assessments. The final grade will be registered by Prof. Maria Eva Giorgioni.

Student learning of this part of the course will be assessed through an oral examination consisting of three questions, designed to evaluate not only the student's understanding of the course content, but also their ability to think critically and articulate their knowledge using appropriate technical language.

Students with Specific Learning Disorders (SLD) or temporary or permanent disabilities are advised to contact the University Office in charge in a timely manner (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en ). The office will be responsible for proposing any necessary accommodations to the interested students, which must in any case be submitted to the teacher for approval at least 15 days in advance. The teacher will assess their appropriateness in relation to the learning objectives of the course.

Teaching tools

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

Office hours

See the website of Marina Collina