Definitions, historical aspects; plants diseases and human society; classification of plant diseases; taxonomy of plant pathogens and their population dynamics; the disease triangle; disease diffusion and vectors. Effects of diseases on plant physiological functions. Symptomatology. Principles of diagnosis. Koch’s postulates. Measurements of a plant disease and of yield loss. Principles of crop protection. Chemical, biological, physical, genetic and legislative control measures against diseases.
Symptomatology, biology, epidemiology and control measures of a selected number of study cases.
Practical work: lab and open field activity for plant disease diagnosis; case studies.