Principles of Plant Pathology and and Stored-Product Pests
A.Y. 2025/2026
Learning objectives
The course aims to provide students with the necessary knowledge to identify the main arthropods and rodents that infest foodstuffs products and to apply the appropriate integrated control strategies to limit the development and spread of these pests.
Lectures will enable students to acquire fundamental knowledge regarding the issues arising from the action of microbial agents and abiotic factors on crops and stored plant products, with particular focus on fungi and bacteria. This will help them understand plant protection management during production phases and apply this knowledge to the preservation of stored products, with the goal of safeguarding food production in terms of both quality and quantity.
Practical activities will be structured to illustrate production chains, phytopathological situations based on case studies, and images useful for recognizing pathogens and stored-product pests, facilitating the application of theoretical concepts to real production contexts.
Lectures will enable students to acquire fundamental knowledge regarding the issues arising from the action of microbial agents and abiotic factors on crops and stored plant products, with particular focus on fungi and bacteria. This will help them understand plant protection management during production phases and apply this knowledge to the preservation of stored products, with the goal of safeguarding food production in terms of both quality and quantity.
Practical activities will be structured to illustrate production chains, phytopathological situations based on case studies, and images useful for recognizing pathogens and stored-product pests, facilitating the application of theoretical concepts to real production contexts.
Expected learning outcomes
At the end of the course, students will have acquired knowledge of the biological, physiological, and behavioral mechanisms of pests (arthropods, rodents) and the main phytopathogenic agents (fungi, bacteria) that attack crops, foodstuffs, and agricultural products. They will understand post-harvest processes related to respiration, ripening, and alterations of plant-based foodstuffs, both biotic and abiotic in origin, and will have the ability to identify the causes of crop and stored product losses.
Students will understand prevention and monitoring strategies for food protection during production and storage, the principles of using physical, chemical, and biological approaches against pests and phytopathogens, with particular attention to food safety and regulatory limits. They will learn how integrated pest management (IPM) techniques are applied and how agricultural crops are managed according to the principles of sustainable and organic farming.
The course also aims to develop the ability to understand and make appropriate intervention strategy choices based on scientific, regulatory, and technological criteria.
Students will acquire tools to communicate effectively with both specialists and non-specialists on topics related to crop, food, and stored product protection. Additionally, the course prepares students to independently stay updated on technological innovations in the field of food protection.
Students will understand prevention and monitoring strategies for food protection during production and storage, the principles of using physical, chemical, and biological approaches against pests and phytopathogens, with particular attention to food safety and regulatory limits. They will learn how integrated pest management (IPM) techniques are applied and how agricultural crops are managed according to the principles of sustainable and organic farming.
The course also aims to develop the ability to understand and make appropriate intervention strategy choices based on scientific, regulatory, and technological criteria.
Students will acquire tools to communicate effectively with both specialists and non-specialists on topics related to crop, food, and stored product protection. Additionally, the course prepares students to independently stay updated on technological innovations in the field of food protection.
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
Unit 1: stored-product pests: Regarding this entomological section the program includes the following topics.
The Class of Insects: Exoskeleton, head, thorax, abdomen. Muscular, nervous, digestive, respiratory, circulatory, excretory, secretory, and reproductive systems. Post-embryonic development: ametabolism, holometabolism, and hemimetabolism. (0.50 ECTS)
Biology of stored product and food production/storage environment insects:
Zygentoma (Thysanura), Psocoptera, Blattodea, Lepidoptera (Pyralidae, Tineidae, Gelechiidae), Diptera (Muscidae, Sarcophagidae, Calliphoridae, Piophilidae, Drosophilidae), Coleoptera (Cleridae, Curculionidae, Bostrychidae, Anobiidae, Silvanidae, Bruchidae, Tenebrionidae, Dermestidae), Hymenoptera (Formicidae, Vespidae, Apidae).
Mites: Overview of morphology, anatomy, and post-embryonic development. (1 ECTS)
Integrated Pest Management (IPM):
Prevention of infestations. Visual monitoring and use of capture devices: food traps, light traps, pheromone traps. Interpretation of monitoring data. Physical methods, chemical methods, biotechnical methods. Overview of biological control. (1 ECTS)
Rodents: Overview of morphology, bio-ethology, and main pest species. Prevention, monitoring. Overview of integrated protection of stored products and processing environments. (0.50 ECTS)
Unit 2: Principles of plant pathology. Harmfulness of plant diseases, the concept of disease and damage, the economic importance of diseases, classification of diseases, the disease cycle.
Host-pathogen interaction: pathogen attack mechanisms, host defense mechanisms (pre- and post-infectional barriers).
Factors influencing the development of diseases in pre- and post-harvest, including concepts related to host-pathogen specificity and host susceptibility.
General characteristics of phytopathogenic bacteria and fungi and the diseases they cause:
Phytopathogenic bacteria: The bacterial cell; pathogen penetration into host tissues; plant colonization; mechanisms of pathogenesis and associated symptoms; pathogen evasion phase, diffusion methods, and inoculum survival; principles of defense against bacterial diseases; basics of phytopathogenic bacterial systematics.
Phytopathogenic fungi: Structure and vegetative organization of fungi; fungal hypha, hyphal modifications and aggregations; spore dormancy and germination; fungal growth and factors influencing these stages in phytopathogenic forms; sexual and asexual reproduction of fungi and their relationship to fungal taxonomy; fungal inoculum survival and spreading (1 ECTS).
Morphological and phytopathological characteristics of major genera of fungi (Botrytis, Aspergillus, Penicillium, Fusarium, Cladosporium, Alternaria, Monilia, Mucor, Rhizopus, Phytophthora) and bacteria (Erwinia, Pectobacterium) attacking crops and plant products. Overview of issues related to the presence of mycotoxins in plant products. (0.75 ECTS)
Physical control methods and measures, with particular attention to those used for the protection of plant products: refrigeration, high temperature, pre-storage thermal treatments, oxygen and carbon dioxide control, ethylene purification, humidity control, low-dose ultraviolet light, gamma radiation, low pressure. Chemical control methods and measures.
Different types of agricultural management, with particular attention to crop protection. Concepts of intensive agriculture, sustainable agriculture, organic farming, subsistence farming, market-oriented farming, and "biodynamic farming." The evolution of crop protection systems in agricultural production. Concepts and differences regarding defense strategies: calendar-based control, guided control, integrated pest management, and integrated production. (0.25 ECTS)
Influence of post-harvest conditions, cultivation techniques, stage of maturity and development, senescence, injuries, chilling injuries, and abnormal atmospheric composition on the storability of plant products. (1 ECTS).
The Class of Insects: Exoskeleton, head, thorax, abdomen. Muscular, nervous, digestive, respiratory, circulatory, excretory, secretory, and reproductive systems. Post-embryonic development: ametabolism, holometabolism, and hemimetabolism. (0.50 ECTS)
Biology of stored product and food production/storage environment insects:
Zygentoma (Thysanura), Psocoptera, Blattodea, Lepidoptera (Pyralidae, Tineidae, Gelechiidae), Diptera (Muscidae, Sarcophagidae, Calliphoridae, Piophilidae, Drosophilidae), Coleoptera (Cleridae, Curculionidae, Bostrychidae, Anobiidae, Silvanidae, Bruchidae, Tenebrionidae, Dermestidae), Hymenoptera (Formicidae, Vespidae, Apidae).
Mites: Overview of morphology, anatomy, and post-embryonic development. (1 ECTS)
Integrated Pest Management (IPM):
Prevention of infestations. Visual monitoring and use of capture devices: food traps, light traps, pheromone traps. Interpretation of monitoring data. Physical methods, chemical methods, biotechnical methods. Overview of biological control. (1 ECTS)
Rodents: Overview of morphology, bio-ethology, and main pest species. Prevention, monitoring. Overview of integrated protection of stored products and processing environments. (0.50 ECTS)
Unit 2: Principles of plant pathology. Harmfulness of plant diseases, the concept of disease and damage, the economic importance of diseases, classification of diseases, the disease cycle.
Host-pathogen interaction: pathogen attack mechanisms, host defense mechanisms (pre- and post-infectional barriers).
Factors influencing the development of diseases in pre- and post-harvest, including concepts related to host-pathogen specificity and host susceptibility.
General characteristics of phytopathogenic bacteria and fungi and the diseases they cause:
Phytopathogenic bacteria: The bacterial cell; pathogen penetration into host tissues; plant colonization; mechanisms of pathogenesis and associated symptoms; pathogen evasion phase, diffusion methods, and inoculum survival; principles of defense against bacterial diseases; basics of phytopathogenic bacterial systematics.
Phytopathogenic fungi: Structure and vegetative organization of fungi; fungal hypha, hyphal modifications and aggregations; spore dormancy and germination; fungal growth and factors influencing these stages in phytopathogenic forms; sexual and asexual reproduction of fungi and their relationship to fungal taxonomy; fungal inoculum survival and spreading (1 ECTS).
Morphological and phytopathological characteristics of major genera of fungi (Botrytis, Aspergillus, Penicillium, Fusarium, Cladosporium, Alternaria, Monilia, Mucor, Rhizopus, Phytophthora) and bacteria (Erwinia, Pectobacterium) attacking crops and plant products. Overview of issues related to the presence of mycotoxins in plant products. (0.75 ECTS)
Physical control methods and measures, with particular attention to those used for the protection of plant products: refrigeration, high temperature, pre-storage thermal treatments, oxygen and carbon dioxide control, ethylene purification, humidity control, low-dose ultraviolet light, gamma radiation, low pressure. Chemical control methods and measures.
Different types of agricultural management, with particular attention to crop protection. Concepts of intensive agriculture, sustainable agriculture, organic farming, subsistence farming, market-oriented farming, and "biodynamic farming." The evolution of crop protection systems in agricultural production. Concepts and differences regarding defense strategies: calendar-based control, guided control, integrated pest management, and integrated production. (0.25 ECTS)
Influence of post-harvest conditions, cultivation techniques, stage of maturity and development, senescence, injuries, chilling injuries, and abnormal atmospheric composition on the storability of plant products. (1 ECTS).
Prerequisites for admission
It is advised to have knowledge of elements of biology and primary productions.
Teaching methods
The teaching methods consist of:
- Lectures with digital support (presentations) aimed at providing students with the necessary knowledge to identify the main pests of stored food products and to apply the appropriate integrated control strategies to limit the development and spread of these pests. Additionally, the lectures will enable students to acquire fundamental knowledge regarding issues caused by microbial agents and abiotic factors affecting crops and stored plant products. This will help them understand plant protection management during production phases and apply this knowledge to the preservation of stored products, with the goal of safeguarding food production in terms of both quality and quantity.
-Classroom exercises designed to illustrate production chains, phytopathological cases based on case studies, and images useful for recognizing pathogens and stored-product pests. These activities will facilitate the application of theoretical concepts to real-world production contexts.
- Lectures with digital support (presentations) aimed at providing students with the necessary knowledge to identify the main pests of stored food products and to apply the appropriate integrated control strategies to limit the development and spread of these pests. Additionally, the lectures will enable students to acquire fundamental knowledge regarding issues caused by microbial agents and abiotic factors affecting crops and stored plant products. This will help them understand plant protection management during production phases and apply this knowledge to the preservation of stored products, with the goal of safeguarding food production in terms of both quality and quantity.
-Classroom exercises designed to illustrate production chains, phytopathological cases based on case studies, and images useful for recognizing pathogens and stored-product pests. These activities will facilitate the application of theoretical concepts to real-world production contexts.
Teaching Resources
The following materials are recommended for the study of entomological topics:
1) Süss, Guerra, 2021"Gli infestanti nelle industrie alimentari" Edizioni Avenue Media
2) Additional documents deposited on the MyAriel page of the course
The following materials are recommended for the study of plant pathology topics:
1) De Cicco, Bertolini, Salerno "Post harvest plant pathology" Piccin publisher.
2) Additional documents deposited on the MyAriel page of the course.
On the MyAriel website for the course, the slides used by the teachers during the lessons are also made available.
1) Süss, Guerra, 2021"Gli infestanti nelle industrie alimentari" Edizioni Avenue Media
2) Additional documents deposited on the MyAriel page of the course
The following materials are recommended for the study of plant pathology topics:
1) De Cicco, Bertolini, Salerno "Post harvest plant pathology" Piccin publisher.
2) Additional documents deposited on the MyAriel page of the course.
On the MyAriel website for the course, the slides used by the teachers during the lessons are also made available.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam consists of a written test including both Units, the entomological and pathological parts of the program. For each of these two Units, the following will be proposed:
a) 1 open-ended questions;
b) 3 questions that fall into one or two of the following types: open-ended questions, closed-answer, multiple-choice, commenting on images, commenting on graphs or diagrams, and completing silent forms.
The time available to complete the answers of the entire exam will be 90 minutes. The individual questions will have a different weight in contributing to the final judgment, established from time to time by the Examining Commission on the basis of the difficulty of the individual questions. In addition to knowledge, the ability to argue the issues under discussion, the articulation of answers, their clarity, and the use of appropriate scientific terminology will also be subject to general evaluation. The exam will be considered failed in the absence of any of the required answers or if a single answer will be completely wrong in order to suggest the almost total lack of knowledge of a scheduled topic. The exam will be passed reporting the sufficiency in both topics covered by the program (entomology and plant pathology) and the arithmetic mean of the two marks relating to each partition will give rise to the final mark of the exam expressed out of thirty. Any rounding up or down to the whole grade will be at the discretion of the Commission, on the basis of an overall assessment of the exam. The correction of the papers will begin in the hours following the carrying out of the written test. Once all the papers have been corrected, the results will be entered on the dedicated Unimia portal where the student will be able to view them and possibly accept the vote within the times indicated by the system itself.
There are no ongoing checks. 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 Unimia web pages.
In addition to knowledge, the ability to argue the issues under discussion, the articulation of answers and the use of appropriate scientific terminology will be assessed.
Students enrolled in an exam call and who no longer wish to support it are required to cancel the registration and eventually to notify the teacher promptly in the case of registration already closed.
Specific procedures for students with disabilities or specific learning disabilities (DSA) will be applied also for telematic exams. Here is the complete information:
https://www.unimi.it/en/study/student-services/services-students-specific-learning-disabilities-sld
https://www.unimi.it/en/study/student-services/services-students-disabilities
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). Furthermore, it is suggested to discuss with the lecturer during the frequency or during the preparation of the exam in order to have useful suggestions.
a) 1 open-ended questions;
b) 3 questions that fall into one or two of the following types: open-ended questions, closed-answer, multiple-choice, commenting on images, commenting on graphs or diagrams, and completing silent forms.
The time available to complete the answers of the entire exam will be 90 minutes. The individual questions will have a different weight in contributing to the final judgment, established from time to time by the Examining Commission on the basis of the difficulty of the individual questions. In addition to knowledge, the ability to argue the issues under discussion, the articulation of answers, their clarity, and the use of appropriate scientific terminology will also be subject to general evaluation. The exam will be considered failed in the absence of any of the required answers or if a single answer will be completely wrong in order to suggest the almost total lack of knowledge of a scheduled topic. The exam will be passed reporting the sufficiency in both topics covered by the program (entomology and plant pathology) and the arithmetic mean of the two marks relating to each partition will give rise to the final mark of the exam expressed out of thirty. Any rounding up or down to the whole grade will be at the discretion of the Commission, on the basis of an overall assessment of the exam. The correction of the papers will begin in the hours following the carrying out of the written test. Once all the papers have been corrected, the results will be entered on the dedicated Unimia portal where the student will be able to view them and possibly accept the vote within the times indicated by the system itself.
There are no ongoing checks. 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 Unimia web pages.
In addition to knowledge, the ability to argue the issues under discussion, the articulation of answers and the use of appropriate scientific terminology will be assessed.
Students enrolled in an exam call and who no longer wish to support it are required to cancel the registration and eventually to notify the teacher promptly in the case of registration already closed.
Specific procedures for students with disabilities or specific learning disabilities (DSA) will be applied also for telematic exams. Here is the complete information:
https://www.unimi.it/en/study/student-services/services-students-specific-learning-disabilities-sld
https://www.unimi.it/en/study/student-services/services-students-disabilities
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). Furthermore, it is suggested to discuss with the lecturer during the frequency or during the preparation of the exam in order to have useful suggestions.
AGR/11 - GENERAL AND APPLIED ENTOMOLOGY - University credits: 3
AGR/12 - PLANT PATHOLOGY - University credits: 3
AGR/12 - PLANT PATHOLOGY - University credits: 3
Practicals: 16 hours
Lessons: 40 hours
Lessons: 40 hours
Professors:
Saracchi Marco, Savoldelli Sara
Shifts:
Professor(s)
Reception:
it is received by appointment
Via Celoria 2, Building 21030