08115 - Fruit Species Arboriculture

Learning outcomes

Acquire the ability to manage the orchard problems for the main fruit trees species, mainly at the level of pruning models; utilize the best cultural techniques to optimize yield and quality of fruits meanwhile reducing the input of the non-renewable resources.

Course contents

For each of the following fruit trees species: apple, apricot, cherry, kiwifruit, olive tree, peach, pear, plum, small fruits, vine, walnut; will be shown their botanical aspects, data of flowering and ripening for the main varieties, the evolution of standard, soil and climatic needs, the more used rootstocks, the more used training systems, the various pruning techniques, fertilization and irrigation systems, the more serious drawbacks such as: pollination, incompatibility, soil sickness, the ripening indexes, mechanization of some cultural techniques.

In the Marketing and Economics of the agro-industrial system degree, all the species are dealt with, but only with regards to their botanical aspects, the evolution of the cultivars, the productivity and economic data. The goal is to provide these students with an appreciation of those aspects of the fruit industry most closely associated to their future working environments.

Readings/Bibliography

The lectures are made available by the instructor via the ad-hoc UNIBO repository. The students will have to gain access to the repository by using their UNIBO credentials.

Other reference materials are represented by:

Rivista di Frutticoltura e di ortofloricoltura, Edagricole.

Teaching methods

Classroom lectures.

Field outings.

Additional reading material provided by the instructor.

Assessment methods

Online exam administered through the School's TCExam software. The program generates random collections of 32 multiple choice questions, to be answered in 35 minutes, sourced from two separate databases, reflecting the different scope of the materials provided to the two student groups. Dates of exams will be communicated to the students on the first day of class and through online tools.

Teaching tools

Multimedia, including slides, video, podcasts. 

Office hours

See the website of Luca Corelli Grappadelli