PLANT PATHOPHYSIOLOGY ARTHROPODS AND BIOTECHNOLOGY

Module PLANT PATHOPHYSIOLOGY

The course aims to provide basic knowledge of the main cytological, morphological, biochemical, physiological and genetic alterations caused by pathogens in plants. The student will know the morphology, biology, pathogenesis, aetiology and epidemiology of the main plant disease agents. By the end of the course, the student will have acquired diagnostic skills and knowledge of the physiological and molecular mechanisms involved in the processes of interaction between plants, plant pathogens and the environment and be able to plan crop protection interventions.

Applied knowledge and understanding skills
- Knowledge of the main cytological, morphological, biochemical, physiological and genetic changes caused by pathogens in plants and methodologies for their study;
- Knowledge of the main molecules synthesised by the plant in response to the presence of the pathogen;
- Identify the type of stress a plant is subjected to and the mechanisms associated with it;
- Associating pathogen virulence factors and plant defence molecules with the different phases of the infectious process;
- Knowledge of some biomolecules of fungal and bacterial origin and their possible applicability as plant protection agents.
Autonomy of judgment 
- Ability to analyse plant-pathogen interaction in terms of altered physiological functions;
- Ability to propose phytopathological diagnoses;
 - Ability to plan phytopathological control interventions;
 - Ability to recognise the physiological basis of plant-pathogen interaction;
- Ability to indicate the virulence factors used by pathogens and the defences put in place by the plant.
Communication skills
- Ability to critically discuss the pathophysiological basis of plant-pathogen-environment interaction;
- Acquisition of language appropriate to the discipline;
- -Ability to express  clearly and concisely course content , using specific terminology. 

Methods of establishing attendance.- Each professor shall establish a method for ascertaining attendance in the course and, at the end of the course, shall notify the Student Secretary of the list of students who have not met the attendance requirement.

1) The diseased plant

- Concept of disease: disease types and pictures; assessment of disease severity and damage; relationships between organisms: symbiosis, parasitism and pathogenicity; saprophyticism; parasite specialisation.

- SYMPTOMATOLOGY: Interpretation of symptoms; Colour changes; Necrosis and degeneration; Cancer; Tumour; Early organ failure; Changes in shape and size; Essudates, etc.
DIAGNOSIS: Concept of diagnosis and types of diagnosis. Koch's postulates. Elements of microscopy and microscopic recognition of plant pathogenic fungi. Pure isolation of pathogenic microorganisms. Traditional techniques, immunological techniques, molecular techniques

- Elements of epidemiology

- Biotic agents of disease: bacteria, pathogenic fungi and oomycetes; viruses, phytoplasmas. pathogenesis; biotrophic, haemibiotrophic and necrotrophic pathogens; host-pathogen 'interfaces'.

- Enzymes and toxins produced by pathogens and their role in pathogenesis.

- Abiotic agents: physical and chemical factors (salt water stress, thermal and anoxia stress), environmental pollutants.

2) Physiology of the diseased plant

- Alterations in respiration and photosynthesis.

- alterations in hormone metabolism.

- alterations in nutrient and water translocation and vascular diseases.

- alterations in secondary metabolism: phenylpropanoids and isoprenoids.

3) Plant responses to infection

- passive defence mechanisms: the plant, an impregnable fortress.

- active resistance mechanisms, compatible and incompatible combinations; hypersensitivity reaction; phenolic metabolism, phytoalexins

- programmed cell death in defence of life; molecular bases of resistance

- systemic acquired resistance (SAR) and its induction with natural and synthetic substances.

- host-pathogen recognition: gene-by-gene theory, molecules involved in recognition and in signal transduction;

- identification of resistance genes and their cloning.

4) Principles of disease defence; use of some bacterial or fungal biomolecules in agriculture as substitutes for plant protection products obtained by synthesis.

1. Matta A., Buonaurio R., Favaron F., Scala A., Scala F. 2017. Fondamenti di patologia vegetale (2° edizione),  Patron editore 
2.  Belli G. -.2006. Elementi di Patologia Vegetale (2° edizione, 2012), Editore Piccin, Padova
3.  Matta A., Pennazio S., 1984 - Elementi di fisiopatologia vegetale, editore Pitagora

4. Stacey G., Mullin B., Gresshoff P.M. (Eds.), 1997 - Biology of plant-microbe interactions. International Society for molecular plant-microbe interactions, APS Press.

 
  Lecturer's notes distributed and uploaded on the Studium platform during the course.

  Notes to reference texts

  The texts are available at the Di3A Department library, the Plant Pathology section of the same Department and at the office of the module lecturer.

The final judgment is as follows:

Ineligible

Subject knowledge and understanding: has limited and fragmentary knowledge of fundamental topics;
Analysis and synthesis skills: performs analysis in a superficial and largely incomplete manner
Language and expressive skills: makes use of inadequate terminology and uncertain and confusing language.

18-20
Subject knowledge and understanding: superficial and partial
Analysis and synthesis skills: makes incomplete and inadequate analysis and synthesis.
Language and expressive skills: uses specific language not always correctly.

21-23
Subject knowledge and understanding: knows with sufficient accuracy the basic elements of the topics covered
Analysis and synthesis skills: performs almost complete, but not in-depth analysis and synthesis
Language and expressive skills: uses specific language in a simple but appropriate manner.

24-26
Subject knowledge and understanding: Good knowledge
Analysis and synthesis skills: Has good analysis and synthesis skills. Topics are consistently expressed
Linguistic and expressive skills: Uses specific language confidently and correctly.

27-29
Subject knowledge and understanding: has complete, thorough and coordinated knowledge of the topics covered
Analysis and synthesis skills: performs complete and thorough analysis and synthesis
Language and expressive skills: uses specific language confidently, articulately and fluently.

30-30 cum laude
Subject knowledge and understanding:  has complete, detailed, comprehensive and personalized knowledge of the topics covered
Ability to analyze and synthesize: knows how to organize independently and completely the knowledge acquired, and is capable of autonomous evaluations and connections
Linguistic and expressive skills: uses specific language confidently, articulately and fluently

Definition of infectious and non-infectious disease; pathogens and parasites
Characteristics of biotrophic and necrotrophic pathogens. Examples
Illustrate the criteria for classifying diseases.
List Koch's postulates and illustrate their application in plant pathology.
What are the factors of aggression (or mechanisms of attack) of disease agents and why are they produced?
Illustrate the main characteristics of fungi and oomycetes
Illustrate plant defence mechanisms
Illustrate plant-pathogen-environment interactions
Explain which signal molecules are synthesised by the pathogen before, during and after the infectious process.
Etc.