- Docente: Stefano Maini
- Credits: 3
- SSD: AGR/11
- Language: Italian
- Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
- Campus: Bologna
- Corso: Second cycle degree programme (LM) in International Horticultural Science (cod. 8765)
Learning outcomes
The student learn the possibility to use differnt methods of arthropod control. Particularly the integrated pest managent is considered as the best way for a sustainable control of the main insects that attacks crops. This is considered interesting due that the students are of different world countries. Case studies of insect control are considered.
Course contents
Introduction to IPM - Integrated pest management. Chemical control and side effects of pesticides. Pollinators decline. Insect resistance to insecticides. Mode of action of insecticides. Biological control using insect predators and parasitoids: possibilities and limits. Biotechnical methods: sterile insect technique, semiochemicals and pheromones, insect growth regulators. Microbial control: virus, bacteria, fungi. Entomopahogen nemathods. Technologies of beneficial insect mass rearings. In vitro rearing. Short accounts of insectaries and commercial insectaries, i.e. biofactories. The main case studies are discussed directely with the students.
Readings/Bibliography
The principal texbooks are possible to find in the library 'G. Goidanich', notes will be given to the students and scientific papers wil be downloaded from international data base and suggested to them.
Teaching methods
The course is divided in two parts:
1) Front desk teaching: lectures regarding the teaching units in classroom, the student acquire the necessary knowledge to to understand the potentiality of integrated pest management (IPM) application. The insect resistance to insecticides, the mode of action and other side effects on beneficial insects are the principal reasons that the students acquire to learn the benefit of IPM.
2) Exercises: the student participate at the projection of videos. A plan for the students that like to prepare Power Point presentations regarding case studies are discussed during the exercises lessons.
Assessment methods
Final oral test
Teaching tools
Overhead projector, personal computer and projector will be used for class lectures.
Laboratory exercises will take place in the didactic laboratories, incubators and rearing insect facilities, greenhouse and in ‘Guido Grandi' insect collection.
Office hours
See the website of Stefano Maini