Plant Pathology Laboratory for Ornamental Plants
A.Y. 2025/2026
Learning objectives
The course aims to develop knowledge of the main diseases affecting ornamental species (in nurseries, greenhouses, and urban environments), including the mechanisms by which causal agents attack plants, as well as the alterations and damage they cause. Additionally, the course provides skills in disease diagnosis and tools for planning prevention and control strategies.
Expected learning outcomes
The student will acquire in-depth knowledge of the main disease frameworks affecting ornamental, herbaceous, and woody species, with a particular focus on urban greenery. They will be able to identify the key symptoms associated with various diseases and understand the biological and physiopathological plant-pathogen interactions. The student will be able to apply the knowledge gained to accurately diagnose diseases of ornamental species using different diagnostic techniques and to plan disease prevention and control strategies. They will develop the ability to independently assess plant health status and formulate diagnostic hypotheses based on collected evidence. The student will acquire the skills to draft detailed reports describing disease frameworks and intervention strategies. Furthermore, they will develop autonomous skills to keep their knowledge up-to-date regarding new pathogens and emerging management and diagnostic technologies, using academic and professional sources.
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
Course syllabus
The course aims to provide fundamental knowledge of significant disease frameworks affecting ornamental, herbaceous, and woody species, as well as those that constitute urban greenery. Additionally, the course presents the techniques used to diagnose these diseases and the strategies on which modern prevention and control methods should be based.
Within the program, specific examples of diseases particularly relevant to ornamental plants will be examined. For the current academic year, the following diseases will be covered: phytoplasmosis in ornamental species (periwinkle, daisy, poinsettia, lavender) and in urban greenery (elm, pine, maple, ash), (0.5 CFU); abiotic damage, viral infections in roses and tulips, bacterial rots caused by Erwinia and Pectobacterium, root rot caused by Armillaria and Rhizoctonia, Dutch elm disease, hornbeam decline, canker stain of plane trees, wood decay and their diagnosis, and major fungal diseases of turfgrass (3 CFU). Diagnostic techniques (symptom observation, microscopy, serological, and molecular techniques) applicable to various disease frameworks will also be covered (1 CFU).
Within the program, specific examples of diseases particularly relevant to ornamental plants will be examined. For the current academic year, the following diseases will be covered: phytoplasmosis in ornamental species (periwinkle, daisy, poinsettia, lavender) and in urban greenery (elm, pine, maple, ash), (0.5 CFU); abiotic damage, viral infections in roses and tulips, bacterial rots caused by Erwinia and Pectobacterium, root rot caused by Armillaria and Rhizoctonia, Dutch elm disease, hornbeam decline, canker stain of plane trees, wood decay and their diagnosis, and major fungal diseases of turfgrass (3 CFU). Diagnostic techniques (symptom observation, microscopy, serological, and molecular techniques) applicable to various disease frameworks will also be covered (1 CFU).
Prerequisites for admission
It is recommended to have knowledge of general plant pathology, agronomic techniques, and the management of major herbaceous and woody ornamental species.
Teaching methods
Lectures (4.5 CFU), laboratory (1 CFU), and in-field activities (0.5 CFU) will be utilized to enhance knowledge and provide related skills on the main aspects of the subject. Laboratory activities include: (i) diagnosis of cultivable fungal pathogens (6 hours): preparation of fungal cultures from different inoculum sources, observation of growth and isolation in pure culture, microscopic observation of fungi isolated in pure culture, and identification using dichotomous keys; (ii) diagnosis of non-cultivable pathogens (10 hours): extraction of total nucleic acids from periwinkle samples infected with phytoplasmas associated with various ornamental plant diseases, amplification (nested PCR) of genes for phytoplasma identification, electrophoretic analysis, and visualization of amplification products.
In-field activities (8 hours) include educational visits arranged with public and private organizations based on the presence of significant phytopathological issues. To support knowledge development on disease examples, the instructor will periodically hold lessons on the most significant host-pathogen complexes within various disease frameworks. At the same time, students will be encouraged to gather information on similar phytopathological issues in different ornamental species, which will be discussed collectively in class on a periodic basis. At the end of the course, students will be required to produce a report on the information gathered, which will be made available to other course participants as a useful resource for exam preparation.
In-field activities (8 hours) include educational visits arranged with public and private organizations based on the presence of significant phytopathological issues. To support knowledge development on disease examples, the instructor will periodically hold lessons on the most significant host-pathogen complexes within various disease frameworks. At the same time, students will be encouraged to gather information on similar phytopathological issues in different ornamental species, which will be discussed collectively in class on a periodic basis. At the end of the course, students will be required to produce a report on the information gathered, which will be made available to other course participants as a useful resource for exam preparation.
Teaching Resources
The scheduled topics can be developed using the following teaching materials:
1) Notes from lessons;
2) Belli G. - Patologia Vegetale, Piccin, Padova, 2012;
3) Vannacci G. - Patologia vegetale, Edises Università, 2021;
4) Garibaldi G., Gullino M.L., Lisa V., Malattie delle piante ornamentali, Calderini Edagricole,
5) Garibaldi G., Bertetti D, Rapetti S., Gullino M.L. Malattie delle piante ornamentali, Edagricole.
6) Material available on the course MyARIEL website.
1) Notes from lessons;
2) Belli G. - Patologia Vegetale, Piccin, Padova, 2012;
3) Vannacci G. - Patologia vegetale, Edises Università, 2021;
4) Garibaldi G., Gullino M.L., Lisa V., Malattie delle piante ornamentali, Calderini Edagricole,
5) Garibaldi G., Bertetti D, Rapetti S., Gullino M.L. Malattie delle piante ornamentali, Edagricole.
6) Material available on the course MyARIEL website.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam consists of an oral test on the topics in the program will be based on 2-3 questions, aimed at ascertaining the achievement of the teaching objectives, the diseases of ornamental plant and turf grass, their diagnosis methods and control approaches. During the examination, descriptions or comments of images or diagrams related to the individual topics in the program may be requested. Moreover, an important part of the exam will be focused on a speech by the students on a disease selected within a list provided by the teachers.
During the year, various exam sessions are proposed during the periods set by the didactic regulation. The dates of the exam sessions are regularly and officially published, in the times and in the manner prescribed by the regulations, on the SIFA web pages.
As a rule, monthly appeals are scheduled.
Students enrolled in an exam session and who no longer wish to support it are required to unsubscribe and possibly promptly notify the teacher in the case of registration already closed.
Students with SLD or disability certifications are kindly requested to contact the teacher at least 15 days before the date of the exam session to agree on individual exam requirements. In the email please make sure to add in cc the competent offices: [email protected] (for students with SLD) o [email protected] (for students with disability).
During the year, various exam sessions are proposed during the periods set by the didactic regulation. The dates of the exam sessions are regularly and officially published, in the times and in the manner prescribed by the regulations, on the SIFA web pages.
As a rule, monthly appeals are scheduled.
Students enrolled in an exam session and who no longer wish to support it are required to unsubscribe and possibly promptly notify the teacher in the case of registration already closed.
Students with SLD or disability certifications are kindly requested to contact the teacher at least 15 days before the date of the exam session to agree on individual exam requirements. In the email please make sure to add in cc the competent offices: [email protected] (for students with SLD) o [email protected] (for students with disability).
AGR/12 - PLANT PATHOLOGY - University credits: 6
Field activity: 8 hours
Laboratories: 16 hours
Lessons: 36 hours
Laboratories: 16 hours
Lessons: 36 hours
Professors:
Quaglino Fabio, Saracchi Marco
Professor(s)
Reception:
On appointment by email (in case of health restrictions on Microsoft Teams)
Second flor - Building 7, via Celoria 2, Milan
Reception:
it is received by appointment
Via Celoria 2, Building 21030