QUALITY OF FRUIT PRODUCTS

Academic Year 2023/2024 - Teacher: MARIO DI GUARDO

Expected Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and comprehension: The course is composed by a general part in which the concept of fruit quality and how this could be affected by the harvest and post-harvest techniques will be dissected and by a special part in which either the peculiarities in terms of post-harvest management of the most important fruit crops and the most important national and Sicilian DOP will be discussed

Applying knowledge and comprehension: The course will cover the principal notions on the valorisation of fruit crops cultivated in the Mediterranean, continental and subtropical areas. The principal metabolomic, organoleptic and qualitative changes occurring during ripening will be analysed toward an optimal management of the supply and storage of fruits.

Independence: Course is also based on exercitation through test with multiple choices to help the students improving their maturity on the topics of the course

Communication skills: The change of opinions in the class during the lectures will help the student in acquiring critical sense and the appropriate technical lenguage.

Learnign skills: At the end of the course, thanks also to the exercitations and the intermediate exam, the student will develop deep insights on the topics of the course and will inprove the communication skills both in terms of techinical lenguage and in the capacity to organize and stracture a talk on the topic of the course.

Course Structure

The course consists in 28 hours of lectures and 28 hours of practical activities (focus on specific topics related to the object of the course and/or technical visit).

In compliance with current regulations, students can request a meeting to arrange different strategies based on specific needs.

Students can refer also to prof. Anna De Angelis (contact person for CInAP, center for inclusivity and disability services)

Required Prerequisites

Basic knoweldge of vegetal biology

Attendance of Lessons

Attending the lectures is not mandatory, but strongly encouraged

Detailed Course Content

1 Objectives of the course

2 Fruit quality

3 Sensorial aspects related to fruit quality

4 Destructive evaluation methods for fruit quality

5 Food security

6 Nutritional quality

7 Influence of pre-harvest techniques in the fruit quality

8 Ripening and senescence processes

9 Ripening indexes

10 The role of ethylene in the post-harvest physiology of fruits

11 The role of temperatures and relative humidity during post-harvest

12 Cold storage

13 Fruit transport and logistic management

14 The use of food waste

15 LCA analysis of the main food chains

16 Rules, certification and labelling of fruits

17 Apple

18 Pear

19 Stone fruits

20 Table grape

21 Citrus

22 Strawberry

23 Tropical and sub-tropical fruits

24 Kiwi fruit

25 National and international DOP

Textbook Information

Fruit Quality and its Biological Basis, by M. Knee, Blackwell edition (Testo 2)

Pinciples of Modern Fruit Science (ISBN 978-94-6261-204-4) (Testo 3)

Course Planning

	Subjects	Text References
1	Objectives of the course	Testo 2 Capitolo 1
2	Fruit quality	Testo 2 Capitolo 1
3	Sensorial aspects related to fruit quality	Testo 2 Capitolo 1
4	Destructive evaluation methods for fruit quality	Testo 2 Capitolo 1
5	Food security	Testo 2 Capitolo 1
6	Nutritional quality	Testo 2 Capitolo 1
7	Influence of pre-harvest techniques in the fruit quality	Testo 2 Capitolo 1
8	Ripening and senescence processes	Learning material provided by the teacher
9	Ripening indexes	Testo 2 Capitolo 6-7-8
10	The role of ethylene in the post-harvest physiology of fruits	Testo 2 Capitolo 5
11	The role of temperatures and relative humidity during post-harvest	Testo 2 Capitolo 5
12	Cold storage	Learning material provided by the teacher
13	Fruit transport and logistic management	Learning material provided by the teacher
14	The use of food waste	Learning material provided by the teacher
15	LCA analysis of the main food chains	Learning material provided by the teacher
16	Rules, certification and labelling of fruits	Learning material provided by the teacher
17	Apple	Bibl 5, Learning material provided by the teacher
18	Pear	Bibl 5, Learning material provided by the teacher
19	Stone fruits	Learning material provided by the teacher
20	Table grape	Learning material provided by the teacher
21	Citrus	Bibl. 4, Learning material provided by the teache
22	Strawberry	Learning material provided by the teacher
23	Tropical and sub-tropical fruits	Learning material provided by the teacher
24	Kiwi Fruit	Learning material provided by the teacher
25	National and international DOP	Learning material provided by the teacher

Learning Assessment

Learning Assessment Procedures

The evaluation will be carried out through an optional written exam (prova in itinere) that will take place during the course followed by an oral exam at the end of the course. For both exams, the evaluation will be based on the knowledges on the specific topics of the course developed by the student. The ability of presenting the topics with adequate language properties.

The marks reflect the student preparation as outlined below:

<18

knowledge and comprehension of the topic: significan lacks in comprehension

Analysis skills: Not adequate with frequent generalisations

Proper use of references: Not appropriate

18-20

knowledge and comprehension of the topic: barely sufficient

Analysis skills: barely sufficient

Proper use of references: barely sufficient

21-23

knowledge and comprehension of the topic: Fairly satisfactory

Analysis skills: able to perform correct analysis

Proper use of references: use of standard reference

24-26

knowledge and comprehension of the topic: satisfactory

Analysis skills: good analysis skills, topics are presented with coherence

Proper use of references: use of standard reference

27-29

knowledge and comprehension of the topic: good

Analysis skills: remarkable analysis skills

Proper use of references: remarkable use of references

30-30L

Conoscenza e comprensione argomento: Excelent

Capacità di analisi e sintesi: excelent analysis skills

Utilizzo di referenze: deep understanding of the relevant references

Examples of frequently asked questions and / or exercises

Describe the stages composing the ripening process

Describe the concept of fruit quality for tree crops

Degree Course in

Catering and logistic science and technology of the Mediterranean food