08115 - Fruit Species Arboriculture

Learning outcomes

For the most relevant temperate tree fruit species acquire knowledge relative to: the economic importance; the botany and main physiological traits; the cultivars and rootstocks; the management techniques, including training systems, pruning, thinning, harvest; quality indices and harvest date. Elements of precision fruit growing, and robotization of the orchard; reduction of input of non-renewable resources.

Course contents

For each of apple, apricot, citrus, cherry, chestnut, kiwifruit, olive, peach, pear, plum, strawberry, table grapes, walnut: environmental requirements, including chill requirement and flowering dates; adaptability to soils, including fertilization requirements; irrigation needs; training and maintenance pruning; thinning; rootstocks and varieties. Pests and diseases are only listed, without in depth discussion; soil-borne diseases and problems related to replanting; proper soil management for preservation of soil's fertility. Biological traits addressed include flower biology; self-sterility; graft incompatibility. Mechanization of pruning, thinning, harvesting aids.

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