08114 - General Arboriculture

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student will acquire knowledge of tree organs, capacity to identify vegetative and reproductive structures; knowledge on hormones and hormonal regulation of growth and development; base knowledge of tree physiology, tree/environment interactions and tree ontogenetic cycle. The student will also gain knowledge of the principles of plant propagation, planting, pruning and tree management with special emphasis on fruit trees.

Course contents

Prerequisites - Students entering this course need the base knowledge on plant biology for the understanding of the subject matter of the course.

The course (IN ITALIAN) is divided in 4 teaching units, which are described below:

1) General introduction, tree organs and principles of tree physiology (teaching unit length: 7 hours)

Economic importance of fruit tree species. Description and identification of tree organs. Roots morphology, function and growth. Root antagonisms and soil sickness. Tree canopy structure, branching habits, buds, leaves, shoots, flowers, fruits and seed. Hormones and plant growth and development. Bioregulators. Dormancy, chilling and heat requirements. Principles of plant functions.

2) Tree life cycle (teaching unit length: 12 hours)

Seed germination and tree ontogenetic cycle. Tree juvenility, maturity and senescence. Plant architecture. Apical dominance and shoot growth. Flower bud differentiation, flowering, sterility types, pollination, fertilization, fruit set and fruit drop, partenocarpy, stenospermocarpy, apomixis, fruit development and ripening. Harvest and maturity indexes and fruit quality. Geographical indications and traditional specialities in the European Union (IGP and DOP).

3. Tree propagation methods (teaching unit length: 8 hours)

Sexual propagation: seed dormancy and seed propagation methodology and use. Chimeras and topophysis. A-sexual propagation methods: cuttings, layering, micropropagation and grafting. Grafting theory, types and methods. Graft incompatibility. Preparation of the propagation material in fruit trees and nursery activity.

4. Orchard design and canopy management (teaching unit length: 9 hours)

Plant/environment interactions and cultivation. Orchard design and planning. Plant protection systems against wind, hail and light. Principles and rules applying to pruning trees. Pruning techniques. Evolution of orchard systems. Fruit harvesting. Principles of orchard irrigation, fertilization and soil management.

Within each teaching unit, a series of practical activities in lab and field will be proposed to the students (24 hours): tree identification, bud and shoot types and branching (tipologie di gemme e rami), harvest and maturity indexes. Propagation methods and pruning.

Readings/Bibliography

The reference book is:

Silviero Sansavini, Riccardo Gucci, Paolo Inglese, Angelo Ramina, Cristos Xiloyannis, 2012. Arboricoltura Generale. Patron Editore Bologna

An English version of the reference book has been recently published by ISHS: Principles of modern fruit science. Sansavini et al., 2019.

Additional text:

Baldini Enrico, 1986. Arboricoltura generale. CLUEB Bologna

Teaching methods

The course features up to 60% of the hours in the classroom, and the remaining 40% as practical activities in fields and labs.

Assessment methods

The student preparation is assessed via an oral exam, covering all teaching units. The goal of the evaluation is to assess the overall knowledge acquired by each students and their capacity to recognize and address problems related to tree management. The evaluation consist of two questions on the course content. The length of the oral exam is about 20-30 minutes.

Teaching tools

PC, Beamer, teaching orchards, scientific instruments made available by the instructor.

Office hours

See the website of Stefano Tartarini