66084 - Microbial Functional Diversity and Monitoring

Learning outcomes

Student achieves professional knowlwdge about the interactions between the microbial community, soil and plant roots. He/she will be able to evaluate the opportunity to apply biofertilizers in agriculture, to orienter him/herself among analytical techniques, and in the sustainable management of microbial resources.

Course contents

Essential requirements:

students should hold propaedeutical 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 practics. 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 AMS Campus webpage. If these essential requirements are not fulfilled, the teacher will tell to each student how to complete the propaedeutical knowledge.

Contents of the a theoretical teaching unit: (24 hours) 
[Expected results: the student will be able to exchange microbiological data in scientific and technical ways adapted to each horticultural sector, and to project and manage microbiological applications in agricultural, forestry, ornamental, environmental conservation & remediation fields]

Introduction (2 hours, propaedeutical knowledge assessments)
Assessment of Student's agricultural microbiology glossary, on previous knowledge about the role of microorganisms in the holobiont plant and in its evolution, on agricultural sustainability and biosphere conservation, on white biotechnologies innovative potentialities.

Microbial Ecology (6 hours, microbial interactions with soil and plant ecosystems)
Trophic nets, communities, microbial consortia in agricultural soils.
Uncultivable microorganisms.
Biofims biology and applications.
Ecology of soil-borne microbial groups.
Ecology of plant-probiotic microorganisms.

Functional diversity of soil microorganisms (16 hours, functions of plant-useful microorganisms, projecting, producing and utilizing microbial inoculants)
Probiotic microbial functions are indispensable to plant survival in natural environments.
Microbial functions in soil biogeochemical cycles: carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulphur, iron, etc..
Microbial role in natural humification and in composting.
Microbial functions in the rhizosphere.
Microbial functions in the phyllosphere.
Role of microorganisms in seedling taking root and in trasplants.
Role of microorganisms in xenobiotics, heavy metals polluted soils phytoremediation.
Diversity and management of mycorrhizal fungi in agriculture, forestry, ornamental gardens and environmental remediation.
Microbial biotechnologies in the rhizosphere: production and use of probiotic microbial agents active in biofertilization and biocontrol.
Elements for projecting and monitoring the improvement and exploitation of plant-probiotic microbial resources.

Contents of the laboratory teaching unit: (16 hours)
[Expected results: at the end uf the unit, the student is able to choose and apply analytical techniques for microbial monitoring and to evaluate the probiotic potentiality of a soil and the microbiological quality of plant materials]
Chemical and biological hazard/security instructions for a safe experience of the modern microbiology laboratory
Official and innovative analytical methods for microbial monitoring in soils, in laboratory and in the environment.
Soil sampling and conservation methods for microbiological purposes.
Molecular methods for the evidencing and monitoring of plant-useful microorganisms.

Readings/Bibliography

• “Microbiologia Agroambientale”. CEA, Milano 2008. ISBN9788840813837. [available in the library].
• "Rhizosphere: Achievements and Challenges" (2010). Dessaux, Yves; Hinsinger, Philippe; Lemanceau, Philippe (Eds.) Springer, Series: Developments in Plant and Soil Sciences, Vol. 104. ISBN9789048128556 [available in the library].
• “Principles and Applications of Soil Microbiology”. Sylvia, Fuhrmann, Hartel, Zuberer. Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, N.J., 1998. [available in the library].
•  For some topics, highlighted by the teacher during lectures or laboratories, personal notes should be taken by the students; handout materials will be available for students on the Unibo AMS Campus website.

Teaching methods

This lecture is given at the Bologna site, by powerpoint presentations and laboratory dimostations and experiments developed by the teacher, eventually integrated by specialists seminars and technical visits.
The lecture is composed by two complementary units: the first, on theory, is given by powerpoint presentations including examples and scientific logics, with the aim to stimolating student's critical learning.
The second, practical, provides hazard/security instructions before going to laboratory, then 5 laboratory experiences of 3 hours, intended to deep students skills in detecting plant-probiotic microorganisms.
At the end of the course, students may produce audiovisual presentations or written memories about related topics, not included in the lecture.

 

Assessment methods

Achieved theoretical and practical learning is assessed by a final exam, at the end of lectures timing. It consists of an oral exam performed by the teacher, generally composed of three principal questions (two about theory, one about laboratory), and eventual other deeping/clarifying questions. The length 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 laboratory instruments.
On students request, learning assessment can be a written exam which length is about one hour, generally composed of three principal questions (two about theory, one about laboratory).
For both types of exam, each questions evaluated a maximum of 30 points. Final note will be calculated by the mean of the three principal or written questions.
On students request, learning assessment can be performed, for both types of exam, in English or French languages.

Teaching tools

Internet-connected PC, video projector, overhead projector, slide projector, whiteboard. Instruments in teaching laboratory, teaching greenhouse.

Links to further information

http://www.unibo.it/docenti/marco.bosco

Office hours

See the website of Marco Bosco