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Food Science and Technology

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Crop production
Module Fruit Tree Crops

Academic Year 2022/2023 - Teacher: ALBERTO CONTINELLA

Expected Learning Outcomes

  • FRUIT TREE CROPS

The course aims to provide students with the knowledge necessary to assess the quality of fruit products. The topics treated are related to the fruit metabolism during the growth, maturation and storage processes. The course is composed by a general and a special part. In the first part, fruit quality characteristics and pre-harvest and post-harvest techniques that may affect it are dissected; in the special part the qualitative traits and the fruit physiology of the most important fruit crops are discussed.

Course Structure

  • FRUIT TREE CROPS
The course consists in 28 hours of lectures and 28 hours of practical activities (case studies, seminars, technical visit). Lessons could be held through videoconference if needed. If teaching will be carried out in mixed mode or remotely, it may be necessary to introduce changes with respect to previous statements, in line with the programme planned and outlined in the syllabus. Similarly, exams might also be carried out on line. 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 learning disorders), in the persons of professors Giovanna Tropea Garzia and Anna De Angelis. 

Required Prerequisites

  • FRUIT TREE CROPS
Basic knowledge of plant biology.

Attendance of Lessons

  • FRUIT TREE CROPS

Attendance is not compulsory, but recommended.

Active participation allows the student to more easily acquire the ability to connect between the various topics covered by the program, the ability to report examples and the property of technical language, which are the subject of evaluation.

Detailed Course Content

  • FRUIT TREE CROPS

General part 

  • Notes of organography and morphology of fruit trees 
  • Botanical and commercial classification of fruits 
  • Fruit quality Fruiting process and ripening physiology 
  • Cold treatment and storage of fruits 

Special part 

  • Citrus 
  • Olive 
  • Apple and pear 
  • Stone fruits 
  • Table grape 
  • Strawberry 
  • Tropical and sub-tropical fruits 
  • Kiwifruit 
  • Minor fruit species 
  • Dried fruits 

Textbook Information

  • FRUIT TREE CROPS

  1. Postharvest Physiology and Biochemistry of Fruits and Vegetables. Ed. E.M. Yahia. Woodhead Publishing. 978-0-12-813278-4

Didactic materials provided by the professor (lecture notes) in the website http://studium.unict.it

Learning Assessment

Learning Assessment Procedures

  • FRUIT TREE CROPS
Verification of learning takes place through an oral interview. The evaluation of the student's preparation will take place on the basis of the following criteria: learning ability and level of depth of the topics covered, properties of synthesis and exposition, and the student's ability to reason.
The vote follows the following scheme:

Unsuitable

Knowledge and understanding of the topic: Important shortcomings. Significant inaccuracies
Ability to analyze and synthesize: Irrelevant. Frequent generalizations. Inability to synthesize
Use of references: Completely inappropriate

18-20

Knowledge and understanding of the topic: At the threshold level. Obvious imperfections
Analysis and synthesis skills: Just enough skills
Use of references: As appropriate

21-23

Knowledge and understanding of the topic: Routine knowledge 
Analysis and synthesis skills: It is capable of correct analysis and synthesis. Argue logically and consistently
Using references: Use standard references

24-26

Knowledge and understanding of the topic: Good knowledge
Analysis and synthesis skills: Has good analysis and synthesis skills. The arguments are expressed consistently
Using references: Use standard references

27-29

Knowledge and understanding of the topic: Knowledge more than good
Ability to analyze and synthesize: He has considerable abilities of analysis and synthesis
Use of references: Has explored the topics

30-30L

Knowledge and understanding of the topic: Excellent knowledge
Ability to analyze and synthesize: He has considerable abilities of analysis and synthesis.
Use of references: Important insights.

Examples of frequently asked questions and / or exercises

  • FRUIT TREE CROPS
    • Fruiting cycle
    • Maturation indices
    • Fruiting biology of citrus fruits