OVERVIEW

The mycology is the discipline that studies fungi, unicellular and multi-cellular organisms, investigated by both microbiologists and naturalists. Fungi play a fundamental role in natural and human economy. They are present in all environmental compartments and are protagonists in a number of innovative biotechnologies. Knowing and studying them makes possible not only to understand the phenomena in which they are involved, including pathologies, but also to exploit them in different fields.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course is aimed at providing students the basics of mycology (biology, ecology, and systematics) and at describing the relevance of fungi in the natural and human economy and in the biodegradation and biotechnology processes. The subjects regarding the field of mycopathology will be also faced taking into account the several aspects of human and animal mycology, as well as of plant pathology.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The Attendance and the active participation to lectures, together with the individual study will allow students to:
- know in short, the history of mycology also in relation to botany;
- know the morphological, metabolic, reproductive, trophic, and ecological characteristics of fungal organisms;
- understand the evolution and the basics of modern fungal taxonomy;
- learn the basic methodology for identifying macrofungi on the base of their morphology.

PREREQUISITES

General notions of general biology, molecular biology, biochemistry are necessary to deal with the contents of the teaching.

TEACHING METHODS

The course consists of 32 hours of lectures, delivered through multimedia presentations. Class attendance is highly recommended.

The lectures will be  on-line using the Teams platform.

Any activities in presence will be carried out in compliance with the limits of capacity of the classrooms/laboratories and distance among people, as indicated  by the current and future regulations concerning the COVID19 emergency.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The course syllabus includes the presentation and discussion of the following topics.
- Brief history of mycology and relations with botany.
- General characteristics of fungal organisms (including lichen fungi): structure and ultrastructure, growth, differentiation. Modes of sexual and asexual reproduction. Nutrition. General and particular aspects of metabolism. Factors influencing the development of fungi.
- Role of fungi in natural systems. Ecological strategies. Mutualistic symbiosis and pathosistic symbiosis. entomopathogenic and mycoparasite fungi.
- Fungi as bioremediation agents (mention) and some applications in biotechnology.
- Mention to modern taxonomy and synthetic illustration of the main phyla.
- Basis method for the recognition of macrofungi of food interest on a morphological basis.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

The multimedia teaching material used by the teacher during the lectures will be
available on AulaWeb at the end of the cycle of lectures / laboratory exercises.

The texts listed below are supporting texts and are available and available at the library of Scuola di Scienze M.F.N:

Deacon W.B., 2005. Fungal Biology. Blackwell Publishing.

Rambelli A., Pasqualetti M., 1996. Nuovi fondamenti di Micologia. Jaca Boock SpA, Milano.

Zotti M., Traverso M., Boccardo F., 2006. – Funghi di Liguria. Marco Sabatelli Editore, Savona. 159p.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

MIRCA ZOTTI (President)

GIUSEPPINA ALBINA BARBERIS

MAURO MARIOTTI

SIMONE DI PIAZZA (President Substitute)

GIOVANNI ANTONIO CHECCHIA (Substitute)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

From October 2020 (1st Semester)

Class schedule

MYCOLOGY

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam consists of an oral section

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The oral examination will focus on the topics covered during the lectures. The aim is to evaluate the degree of learning, autonomy, synthesis and exhibition skills achieved by the student.
The exam could take place on the Teams platform, if required by the authorities. Due to COVID-19 emergency, users are invited to refer to AulaWeb site to get updated info regarding the exams.

Exam schedule

FURTHER INFORMATION

The regular attendance of the lessons is strongly recommended.