Physiological and Molecular Plant Pathology

The diseased plant (1 credit): functions that are altered and related symptoms, biotic and abiotic diseases, biotic agents: pathogens and pathogenesis; biotrophic, emibiotrophic and necrotrophic pathogens; host-pathogen; interfacies, entry and colonization of the host by viruses, phytoplasmas, bacteria, pathogens and mycorrhizal fungi; enzymes and toxins produced by pathogens and their role in pathogenesis; abiotic factors: physical and chemical factors, environmental pollutants. The physiology of diseased plants (1 credit): changes in respiration, photosynthesis, hormone metabolism and secondary metabolism, alterations in the translocation of nutrients and water. The responses of plants to the infection (2 credits): passive and active defense mechanisms, host and non-host resistance; elicitors and receptors involved in host-pathogen recognition and signal transduction; hypersensitivity reaction and programmed cell death, systemic acquired resistance (SAR) and its induction by natural and synthetic substances. Tutorials on key topics of the course by light and electron microscopic observations of tissues infected by pathogens or subjected to abiotic stress; main measures of physiological parameters (photosynthesis, transpiration) of plants subjected to the action of biotic and abiotic stressors (1 CFU).