Agricultural Microbiology
A.Y. 2022/2023
Learning objectives
The course aims to provide fundamental knowledge about cytology and physiology of microorganisms, with emphasis to their role in nature and their use in agricultural biotechnology, in relation to soil fertility, organic matter degradation, and microbial interactions with plants and other biotic and abiotic components of soil ecosystem. Laboratory activity will allow the students to practice the basic techniques to grow and characterize soil and rhizosphere microorganisms.
Expected learning outcomes
Basic knowledge about general and ecological microbiology, in order to understand the role of microbial physiological groups associated with agricultural ecosystem. Knowledge of basic microbiological techniques.
Lesson period: Second semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
In accordance with the COVID 19 emergency prescription in force at that time, lessons and laboratory activities will be held in presence or through the electronic platform Microsoft Teams synchronously, on the basis of the defined timetable. The lessons will be recorded and made available to students on Ariel.
The exams will be held remotely in written mode through Moodle.
The exams will be held remotely in written mode through Moodle.
Course syllabus
Microbiology in Historical Context, Cell morphology, and structure. Prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms, Cell walls of Bacteria and Archaea, Citoplasmatic membrane and transport, Cell inclusions, Microbial locomotion, Endospores, Bacterial genomes, Methods for manipulating DNA, Fungi, Cultural techniques, Microbial growth and control, Microscopy, Viruses, Gene transfer in Bacteria, Mutations, Microbial biofilms, Microbial symbioses, Plants as a microbial habitat, Aerobic respiration, Chemolithotrophy Fermentations, Anaerobic respiration, Phototrophy, Bioremediation, Wastewater treatment and phytodepuration, Human microbiota, Rumen, Hydrogen production, Nutrient cycles.
Prerequisites for admission
Basic knowledge of organic chemistry and biochemistry.
Teaching methods
The course has a total of 56 hours of teaching with 40 hours in the class lectures and 16 hours in the laboratory. More details will be provided on the first day of class.
Methods of instruction are lecture format, class discussion and lab experiments. All lecture materials will be available on ARIEL web site.
Methods of instruction are lecture format, class discussion and lab experiments. All lecture materials will be available on ARIEL web site.
Teaching Resources
All lecture materials (including the video lessons) will be available on the ARIEL website in PDF format.
Suggested textbooks:
- B. Biavati, C. Sorlini, Microbiologia generale e agraria, editore CEA
- M. Madigan, C. Stahl, Brock Biologia dei microrganismi. Vol. 1 e Vol. 2
The textbooks are available at the university library.
Reading the textbook will help you understand the lecture materials. Unless specifically noted in class, you will not be tested on the topics that are not discussed in the lecture or in the lab.
Suggested textbooks:
- B. Biavati, C. Sorlini, Microbiologia generale e agraria, editore CEA
- M. Madigan, C. Stahl, Brock Biologia dei microrganismi. Vol. 1 e Vol. 2
The textbooks are available at the university library.
Reading the textbook will help you understand the lecture materials. Unless specifically noted in class, you will not be tested on the topics that are not discussed in the lecture or in the lab.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam will consist of 31 multiple-choice questions based on the lectures and the laboratory. There will be the possibility to split the test into two parts. The first part is possibly held during the teaching break ("prova in itinere"). More details will be provided on the first day of class.
Test #1 (first part) -- Test #1 will cover topics from lessons #1 to #10 and it will last 30 minutes.
Test #2 (second part)-- Test #2 will cover topics from lessons #11 to #20 and it will also last 30 minutes.
The final grade will be the sum of the two tests.
Students can do the two tests separately or simultaneously.
The dates of the tests will be announced on the first day of class.
Test #1 (first part) -- Test #1 will cover topics from lessons #1 to #10 and it will last 30 minutes.
Test #2 (second part)-- Test #2 will cover topics from lessons #11 to #20 and it will also last 30 minutes.
The final grade will be the sum of the two tests.
Students can do the two tests separately or simultaneously.
The dates of the tests will be announced on the first day of class.
AGR/16 - AGRICULTURAL MICROBIOLOGY - University credits: 6
Laboratories: 16 hours
Lessons: 40 hours
Lessons: 40 hours
Professor:
Villa Federica
Professor(s)