08115 - Fruit Species Arboriculture

Academic Year 2021/2022

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.

In consideration of current legislation regarding COVID-19 containment, teaching will be carried out as per Unibo's guidelines. Currently, they state that all teaching will be carried out in mixed (in class and remote) modality. 100% online teaching may occur under special conditions, such as lectures given by visiting professors and/or in case of health conditions of the instructor that mandate self-quarantine.

Assessment methods

The final exam is a multiple choice, computer assisted test. The specific conditions of the test will be communicated during the course, as they may have to be tailored to existing Coronavirus legislation imposed limitation.

As this is part of an Integrated Course, the professor in charge of recording the exam is Luca Corelli Grappadelli

Teaching tools

Multimedia, including slides, video, podcasts. 

Office hours

See the website of Luca Corelli Grappadelli

SDGs

Responsible consumption and production Climate Action Life on land

This teaching activity contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN 2030 Agenda.