(objectives)
The course aims to deal with the main plant pathogens (mainly fungi, but with examples concerning also bacteria, viruses and insects) of particular importance and of recent introduction and diffusion in Italy and in the European Countries; moreover, it also deals with the main pathogenic species whose introduction is at risk. Consequently, the main purposes of the course are the understanding of the biology and the epidemiology of these disease agents, and the containment strategies to be adopted (preferably with low environmental impact) , also in comparison with common disease agents for agricultural crops and forest environments. Then, the course aims to bring a knowledge of the main factors that have led to the entry into the EU territories of these dangerous agents (climate change, pathogen pollution and agricultural changes). Finally, the students are driven to the learning of how to recognize an invasive pathogen, how the Countries are organized to minimize these unwanted invasions (including Legislative rules), and what are the possible measures and strategies to contain these organisms after their invasion.
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