FRUITCULTURE

The course is aimed at supplying knowledges onto main fruit tree species with a special emphasis on those cultivated in mediterranean area.

In detail the course deals with crop situation, varietal and rootstock choice, agronomic management of plantations, and coltural techniques aimed at sustainable and high quality productions.

Lessons, discussion on specific topics, excursion and visits.

If teaching is given in a mixed formula or remotely, necessary changes may be introduced to what was previously stated in order to comply with the provided and reported syllabus.

Learning assessment may also be carried out on line, should the conditions require it.

As a guarantee of equal opportunities and in compliance with current laws, interested students can ask for a personal interview in order to plan any compensatory and/or dispensatory measures, based on their specific needs and on teaching objectives of the discipline.
It is also possible to ask the departmental contacts of CInAP (Center for Active and Participatory Integration - Services for Disabilities and/or DSAs), in the persons of professors Giovanna Tropea Garzia and Anna De Angelis.

FIRST PART

Introduction: importance of fruitculture

Summary of general fruitculture: cultivar, clone, clonal selection. Hybridization, mutagenesis. Fruti quality.

Nursery and certification. Tree growth cycle and fruit set. Fruit classification.

SECOND PART

Description of the following species:

- pome fruits (apple and pear)

- stone fruits (apricot, cherry, peach, plum)

- nuts (almond, hazelnut, chestnut, pistachio, nut)

- actinidia

- minor fruit trees species (carob, pomegranate, prickly pear)

- subtropical fruit tree species (avocado, anona, mango)

These species will be presented according to the following scheme: systematics and origin; diffusion and economic importance; floral and fruitification biology; varieties and rootstocks; breeding; propagation; tree adaptation to the environment; training an pruning; soil management; irrigation and water relations; mineral nutrition and fertilization; ripening and harvest; product utilization.

THIRD PART

Basic information on citriculture, olive culture and viticulture

Basic information on wood production and forestry

Basic information on ornamental trees

1. Rolando Valli. Arboricoltura generale e speciale. Calderini Edagricole, 2003

2. Silviero Sansavini e Paolo Ranalli. Manuale di ortofrutticoltura. Edagricole, 2012

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Further study in english: Janick, Jules, and Robert E. Paull, eds. The encyclopedia of fruit and nuts. CABI, 2008.