96545 - Sustainable Fruit Tree Management

Learning outcomes

The aim of this teaching is to provide the knowledge on: 1) different productive management system (integrated, organic, etc.) 2) orchard ecosystem biodiversity and strategies to improve it, 3) fruit tree vegetative and reproductive cycles, and techniques for a sustainable management, 4) fruit biochemical composition, development and physiology, 5) economic and environmental sustainable fruit tree management. This knowledge will allow the student to select and employ the most appropriate techniques to obtain a high quality product with the lowest environmental impact

Course contents

1. GENERAL

Students learn basic knowledge of tree morphology and physiology, tree phenological stages and interaction between tree and environment

-Introduction

Program description, and class organization, suggested books and bibliography, exams and grading method

-Tree description

Canopy and root description: trunk, branches, twigs, shoots, buds, leaves, flowers and fruits, replanting soil desease (allelopathy), root and mycorrhiza symbiosis. Field practical activity

-Vegetative and productive cycle

Endogenous and exogenous hormons. Bud differentiation and development. Factors affecting flower bud differentiation. Fruit thinning. Bud dormancy. Fruit growth and maturation. Biochemistry of fruit ripening. Ripening index, fruit quality for fresh market and processing. Laboratory practical activities.

2. MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

-Biodiversity of the orchard ecosystem

Role of soil organic matter, intercropping

Integrated fruit management

Integrated crop management guidelines

Organic and biodinamic fruit management.

3.ORCHARD MANAGEMENT

Students learn the basic knowledge on orchard management

-tree propagation

Sexual reproduction and tree multiplication. Seed development. Micro propagation, cutting technique, grafting. Bud genetic mutation. Practical activity in nursery

- soil management

soil grass management, soil tilling, mulching and use of herbicides

-water management

fractions of water in the soil (maximum capacity, field capacity, wilting point). Determination of the time of irrigation and volume of water. Irrigation systems

-nutrient management

Nutrient balance, tree nutrient requirement, soil fertility, tree nutrient uptake kinetics

-tree pruning

vegetative habitus, summer and winter pruning, non-bearing and  bearing tree pruning, training system 

Readings/Bibliography

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

Slide of the classes are available on the teacher website of the University of Bologna. However the class presentations are not sufficient to have an adequate preparation. On the other hand the teacher is available to provide International students with appropriate materials

Teaching methods

Teaching is divided in 2 parts: lessons in classroom (60%) and practical activities (40%) in field and laboratories. Classes include digital presentations with figures and photos to complete book information. Students are asked to participate to the class actively by explaining their point of view on some topics on environment and economic sustainability, management etc., and commenting professor issues. Regularly the level of understanding will be evaluated by going over the previous topics. Particular attention will be made on the practical activities, taking advantage from the experimenatl farm of Cadriano (near Bologna). Students will be encouraged to participate practically to the field and lab demonstrations.

From this point of view student class attendance is encouraged as the principal part of the educational pathway

Laboratory activities are also scheduled to show the students the most important index to evaluate fruit ripening (refractometer, penetrometer, starch test, colorimeter, DAmeter, NIRs , ecc.).

Assessment methods

The exam consists of a 40 minuts final exam, which aims to quantify the skillness and expected expertise through an oral examintion 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.

To pass the exam with the minimum grade (18/30) student should show a sufficient knowledge of the 3 topics, or a good knowledge of 2 out of 3 questions. The maximum grade (30/30) will be obtained by showing an excellent knowledge of all the topic discussed.

Teaching tools

The class will be run with the help of digital slides (power point or similar). The slides will be made of few words with large size of the letter using a clear font (i.e. 'arial'), to allow dyslexic student to follow the class. Upon agreement, during the reception time, the teacher is available to give exrtra explanation to student with learning difficulties.

Office hours

See the website of Moreno Toselli