Vegetable and flower crop

The course aims to provide an in-depth level of knowledge on the cultivation of the most representative vegetable and flower species of Italy.

Knowledge and understanding

The student will acquire the suitable preparation to organize and manage the production process of some “model” vegetable and ornamental crops in order to obtain appropriate results in terms of yields, product quality and sustainability of production processes.

Applying knowledge and understanding

At the end of the course, the student will be able to organize, thanks to the understanding of the plant requires needs and the interactions with cultivation techniques, the production process of vegetable and floral crops, taking into due account the qualitative and sustainability aspects of the production process itself.

Making judgements

In the elaboration of the cultivation protocols, the student will be able to independently make the appropriate biological and technical choices to manage the cultivation process. This ability is refined both during the lectures and exercises and through the development of a power point presentation on a topic chosen by the student.

Communication skills

The student will strengthen the technical language of horticulture, both in Italian and in English, to be able to discuss the biological and technical choices that are the basis of the cultivation protocols. The realization and presentation of the final project in power point will allow to refine the technical language and communication skills.

Learning skills

The student will be able to autonomously expand its knowledge on vegetable and flower crops by deepening the reference texts, consulting articles in specialized scientific journals and the insights offered by the seminars organized within the course.

The course takes place through classroom lectures, with the aid of a video projector, analysis of case studies, seminars and technical visits to significant farms in the area. 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 Inclusion - Services for Disabilities and/or DSAs).

Attendance at lessons is not compulsory but highly recommended also in consideration of the high degree of innovation of the topics covered.

Knowledge of crops with particular reference to biology, the requirements of the different cultivar groups.

Critical analysis of the most significant aspects of the cultivation process for the principal species in terms of botanical families, morpho-biometric characteristics, type of products, the most appropriate technical practices.

In detail the crops analyzed, like case study, are: Fam. Alliaceae: onion; Fam. Apiaceae: carrot; Fam. Asteraceae: lettuce; Fam. Brassicaceae: cauliflower; Fam. Cucurbitaceae: watermelon; Fam. Fabaceae: haricot; Cut flower: chrysanthemum and bulbous plants; Flowering pot plants: bedding plants; Foliage plants.

Notes and schemes of the lessons provided by the teacher. 
Rubatzky, V. E., & Yamaguchi, M., 2012. World vegetables: principles, production, and nutritive values. Springer Science & Business Media.
Dole J.M., Wilkins H.F., 1999. Floriculture. Principles and species. Prentice Hall, New Jersey.

The exam consists of two multiple choice tests (which can take place during the course, recommended choice, or at the end of the course) to evaluate the degree of knowledge of the program carried out during the lessons and in an oral test (subject to passing the tests), which consists in the presentation of a power point lasting about 10 minutes on a topic chosen by the candidate relating to the course program. This will allow to evaluate the candidate's autonomy, the ability to synthesize, analyze and organize information.

Votes will be attributed according to the following scheme:

Unsuitable

Knowledge and understanding of the topic: Significant shortcoming and inaccuracies

Analysis and synthesis skills: Irrelevant. Frequent generalizations. Inability to synthesize

Use of references: Completely inappropriate

18-20

Knowledge and understanding of the topic: At threshold level. Obvious imperfections

Analysis and synthesis skills: Barely sufficient ability

Use of references: Barely appropriate

21-23

Knowledge and understanding of the topic: Routine knowledge

Analysis and synthesis skills: Is able to analyze and synthesize correctly. Argues logically and coherently

Use of references: Uses standard references

24-26

Knowledge and understanding of the topic: Good knowledge

Analysis and synthesis skills: Has good analysis and synthesis skills. Topics are expressed consistently

Use of references: Uses standard references

27-29

Knowledge and understanding of the topic: Knowledge more than good

Analytical and synthesis skills: Has considerable analytical and synthesis skills

Use of references: Has deepened the topics

30-30L

Knowledge and understanding of the topic: Excellent knowledge

Analytical and synthesis skills: Has considerable ability to analyze and synthesize.

Use of references: Important insights.

1) What are the peculiar characteristics of the plant species of a certain family of vegetable plants?

2) What are the relationships between the biological characteristics of a vegetable crop and the cultivation technique adopted?

3) What can be the product innovation strategies in floriculture?