65911 - Fruit Science

Learning outcomes

Students acquire basic knowledge on tree morphology and physiology, on phenological stages, on influence of environmental (climate and soil) conditions on fruit production. In addition students acquire basic knowledge on the techniques of orchard management, including: orchard plantation, soil management, water management, nutrient management, and pruning, according to an economically and ecologically sustainable approach.

Course contents

1. GENERAL

The students acquire basic knowledge on tree morphology and physiology, on phenological stages, on influence of environmental (climate and soil) conditions on fruit production through the following teaching units (TU):

1.1) Class organization. Program description exam procedure. Lab activities, visits and seminars scheduled Book and publications suggested (1 hour)

1.2) Morphology of roots and tree top (canopy and skeleton). Flower, leaf, fruit, bud (2 hours)

1.3) Vegetative and productive cycles. Endogenous and exogenous hormones, and their effect of tree physiology and productive cycle (3 hours)

1.4) Bud differentiation and flower induction and formation. Fruit development (fruit set, thinning) and maturation (4 hours)

1.5) Chemical and biochemical changes in fruit at maturation, climateric and aclimateric species. Maturation index, fruit harvest and post-harvest (3 hours)

1.6) Fruit quality for fresh market and processing. Parameter to evaluate fruit quality (1 hour)

1.7) The environment: climate and protection against severe weather conditions. Soil and fertility parameters. Environment suitability (2 hours)

1.8) Light, stomata gas exchange, C fixation and partitioning to the different sinks (2 hours)

2. ORCHARD MANAGEMENT

Students acquire basic knowledge on the techniques of orchard management, including: plant propagation, orchard plantation, soil management, water management, nutrient management, and pruning

2.1 Plant propagation: cutting, micropropagation, grafting (3 hours)

2.2 Orchard plantation, rootstock and variety, soil preparation, pre-planting fertilization, tree density, row orientation (2 hours)

2.3 Soil management: tillage, grassing, mulching, use of herbicides (3 hours)

2.4 Nutrient management: tree nutrient requirements, uptake kinetics. Soil nutrient mobility. Foliar fertilization. Fertigation (4 hours)

2.5 Water management: soil water fractions, determination of the time of irrigation. Irrigation systems. Use of irrigation to prevent frost damage, and to decrease canopy temperature (3 hours)

2.6 Pruning management: physiological principals and aims of pruning. Pre- and post bearing pruning. Training systems (3 hours

Readings/Bibliography

Arboricoltura generale - ed. S. Sansavini et al. Patron, Bologna (English version)

Arboricoltura Generale. E. Baldini, CLUEB, Bologna.

Class presentations and notes

Teaching methods

Class includes: 4 hours of practical activities in lab on maturation indexes (fruit firmness, soluble solid concentration, starch test, colorimeter, DAmeter, NIRs technique, etc.); 16 hours of field visits to study training systems, phenological stages, soil management, pruning. Seminars on specific topics (4).

Assessment methods

At the end of the classes, student will be graded through a 40- minute, oral exam, that includes usually 3 questions on tree physiology and morphology, orchard management and verifies the capacity of the student to make connection between the theoric teaching and the pratical situation that he might face.

The student grade can be achieved in English

Teaching tools

Room slide show presentation, lab, field, packing house vistits and practical experiences.

Office hours

See the website of Moreno Toselli

See the website of Elena Baldi