42291 - Plant Resistance to Diseases

Academic Year 2008/2009

  • Docente: Paolo Bertolini
  • Credits: 3
  • SSD: AGR/12
  • Language: Italian
  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
  • Campus: Bologna
  • Corso: Second cycle degree programme (LS) in Agro-industrial Systems Sciences (cod. 0351)

Learning outcomes

This course trains students to know the genetic basis of plant resistance to diseases, the mechnisms of resistance, the gentically modified plants and induction of resistance.

Course contents

Plant-pathogen interaction.  How pathogens attack plants and mechanisms of resistance. Main methods used in breeding to improve resistance to pathogens. Variability and selection pressure in the co-evolution of plants and pathogens. Types of resistance: oligogenic, polygenic, vertical and horizontal. Gene-for-gene concept. Screening for the evaluation of disease resistance. Induction of disease resistance in some crops and  related products.

Readings/Bibliography

Agrios G.N., Plant Pathology, Academic Press, New York, 1997 ( pag. 63-142; pag 192-195)

Teaching methods

The course will be based on lectures and laboratory exercises  with the presentation of slides showing  the mechanisms of infection and types of  defence  reactions activated by plants. Case studies will be presented  on induced resistance and on genetically modified plants.

Assessment methods

The oral examination will consist of four–five questions on the subjects taught in the course.

DATE APPELLI:  17/06/ 2009;   21/07/2009;   08/09/2009;   23/09/2009       ore 8.30



Teaching tools

Overhead projector, slide projector, PC, laboratory.

Office hours

See the website of Paolo Bertolini