Learning objectives
The course is monographic, and will deal with a number of representative fruit species, under the several aspects: botany, genetics, cultivation, technology. In the final part the students will present publicly the results of their research.
Prerequisites
Plant Biology
Plant production
Course unit content
Fruit Crops describes the plants, tres, shrubs and herbaceous, which provide eatable fruit, fresh or dry (not vegetables), and plants from which oils, spiced and other eatable products are obtained. Also tropical and subtropical plants are dealt with.
Full programme
Fruit Crops describes the plants, tres, shrubs and herbaceous, which provide eatable fruit, fresh or dry (not vegetables), and plants from which oils, spiced and other eatable products are obtained. Also tropical and subtropical plants are dealt with.
The species are:
Fresh fruit: Apple, Peach, Grape, Citrus, Banana, Coconut, Avocado, Mango, etc.
Nuts: Almond, Cashew, Macadamia, Hazelnut, Pistachio, Date, Walnut.
Spices: Mustard, Pepper, Chilli pepper, Vanilla, Clove, Nutmeg, Cinnamon.
Drinks: Coffee, Tea, Cocoa, Cola
Oil plants: Olive, Oil palm.
For each species the considered aspects are:
Botany: morphology, anatomy, physiology of food plants, with special reference to the parts used as food and to the processes leading to their formation on the plant.
Genetics: origin and distribution of species, subspecies and cultivars, and their characteristics of environmental adaptation and quality.
Cultivation: prevailing growing techniques, and their effects on quantity and quality of products.
Transformation and storage: techniques adopted in farm, or locally, to condition and store the products.
Bibliography
Baldini E., Marangoni B., 1993 - Coltivazioni arboree. CLUEB, Bologna.
Rehm S., Espig G., 1997 – La coltivazione delle piante tropicali e subtropicali. Edagricole, Bologna.
Fabbri A., 2001 - Produzioni Vegetali. Edagricole.
Rinallo C., 2005 - Botanica delle piante alimentari. Piccin
Assessment methods and criteria
Presentation of a research on a chosen fruit species
