Content (Syllabus outline)

Introduction. History of biological control of pests, diseases and weeds. Definition of biological control. Biological control of phytophagous organisms. Predators, parasitoids, parasites, antagonistic mikroorganisms. Entomophages from the orders Dermaptera, Heteroptera, Neuroptera, Diptera, Hymenoptera, Thysanoptera, Coleoptera; Aranea, Acarina, Mollusca, Aves; entomopathogenic nematodes. Bionomics of beneficials from different taxonomic categories. Microbiological control of phytophagous organisms (entomopathogenic viruses – granulosis viruses, polihedrosis viruses, baculoviruses, entomopathogenic bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis; entomopathogenic fungi Beauveria spp., Metarhizium spp., Verticillium lecanii). Stimulation of autochthonous natural enemies, introduction of exotic natural enemies with the aim of their permanent collonization (classical biological control), multiple (seasonal) introduction of natural enemies in the open field or in the greenhouses. Biological control of diseases agents. Relations between diseases agents and antagonistic organisms. Biology of antagonists. Hiperparasitism, competition, antibiosis, probiosis. Hypovirulence. Biological control of phytoparasitic nematodes. Biological control of weeds (using herbivores, phytophagous arthropods, phytopathogenic microorganisms). Production and distribution of biological control agents, import, transport, quarantine of exotic organisms. Biological control agents as commercial biopesticides. Risk of introduction of exotic organisms. Integration of biological and chemical control. Effect of chemical pesticides on beneficial organisms. Professional advisory work in the field of biological control. Regulations in the field of biological control. Lists of autochthonous and exotic natural enemies in Slovenia.

Prerequisites

Condition for inclusion in the work:

-           enrolment in 2nd year study

 

Condition for performing study obligations 

Prerequisites for admittance to the exam

-           participation at laboratory work

-           participation at field work

-           presentation of seminar paper