08114 - General Arboriculture

Learning outcomes

The aim of this course is to provide the basic knowledge on: 1) fruit tree vegetative and reproductive cycles, 2) techniques for a sustainable management of orchards 3) fruit biochemical composition, development and physiology, 5) main agronomic and quality properties of apple, pear, peach, cherry, apricot, plums, kiwi. This knowledge will allow the student to set and manage an orchard according to the final use of the fruits (fresh market or processing). Students will be able to select and introduce the most appropriate techniques to obtain a high quality product with the lowest environmental impact

Course contents

During the course, aspects concerning different orchard production systems and agronomic properties of main fruit crops will be addressed.

In detail, the topics covered in class will be the following:

GENERAL PART

• Tree description: canopy description: trunk, branches, twigs, shoots, buds, leaves, flowers and fruits. The root system (structure and interaction with environment).
  
  
• Effects of endogenous and exogenous factors on plant growth: endogenous plant growth regulators and their influence on the plant-productive cycle. Synthetic plant growth regulators and their application in fruit growing.
  

• Vegetative and productive cycle:bud differentiation and flower formation. Flowering, pollination, fertilisation. Fruit growth and ripening cycle. Biochemical changes in ripening fruits, climacteric and aclimacteric fruits.

• Quality and harvesting index: ripening and harvest fruit indices.

ORCHARD MANAGEMENT

• Tree propagation: sexual reproduction and tree multiplication. Seed development. Micro propagation, cutting technique, grafting. Bud genetic mutation.

• Training system: training forms and planting distances of the main fruit species.  

• Soil management: tillage, grassing, green manure, mulching and weeding.

• Fertilisation: soil and its fertility characteristics. Fertilisation of fruit trees, removals and absorption kinetics. Mobile and retained elements in the soil. Foliar fertilisation. Fertigation. Organic matter.

• Water resource management: water in the soil, determination of timing of irrigation and irrigation systems. Anti-weather, climate control irrigation.

SPECIAL PART

Students learn about the specific requirements and management technique of apple, pear, peach, apricot, cherry, plum and kiwifruit

The course includes laboratory, field activities, visits to commercial companies, fruit marketing plants and/or nurseries. There will also be seminars on current topics held by experts.

Readings/Bibliography

Manuale di ortofrutticoltura - a cura di Sansavini S. e Ranalli P. Edagricole il sole 24ore (limitatamente alla parte di frutticoltura, fino a pag 302).

Arboricoltura generale - a cura di Sansavini et al. Patron

Principi di arboricoltura a cura di Peano e Sottile. Edises

Principles of Modern Fruit Science - Sansavini S. et al, eds. ISHS, Leuven (Belgium)

Arboricoltura speciale a cura di Gentile, Inglese e Tagliavini. Edagricole

 

Teaching methods

Teaching is divided in lessons in classroom and practical activities in field, laboratories and company visits.

To participate to laboratory and field practical activities students are required to attend health and safety training courses. All information are available at the following link: https://www.unibo.it/en/services-and-opportunities/health-and-assistance/health-and-safety/online-course-on-health-and-safety-in-study-and-internship-areas

Assessment methods

The student learning acquisition will be evaluated at the end of the teaching lessons through a 20-minutes final exam, which aims to quantify the skills and expected expertise through an oral examination with no possibility to use books, notes, or any other supports.

The oral examination includes an interview on, at least, 3 topics discussed in class, with the aim to evaluate the student learning level, ability of critical analysis, capability to link the different topics taught in class, and apply the knowledge to the different environmental conditions.

 

The exam can be taken in english.

Students with learning disorders and\or temporary or permanent disabilities: please, contact the office responsible (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students) as soon as possible so that they can propose acceptable adjustments. The request for adaptation must be submitted in advance (15 days before the exam date) to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of the adjustments, taking into account the teaching objectives.

Teaching tools

The class will be run with the aid of digital slides. All slides used in class will be made available to students in advance via the virtuale platform.

The Professor is also available for additional explanations by appointment.

Scientific instruments made available by the Professor will be used during the exercises.

Office hours

See the website of Elena Baldi