Programme

The program of both modules TREE CROPS and HERBACEOUS CROPS is divided into a general and a special part, essentially focused on the quality of agricultural production as a function of the vegetative-productive cycle of the species, the genetic improvement activities, the main agronomic techniques, and the post-harvest practices.
In the general part of the course, the concept of food quality with the declination in its attributes and factors influencing it is explained; the issues of agroecosystem, agroecology and sustainable production systems including precision agriculture techniques are addressed, the main natural and agricultural resources and the cultivation methods are described (notes on the main agricultural processes, on integrated agriculture as well as on organic and biodynamic management and on conservative agriculture) along with the issues inherent to plant breeding and to the concept of multifunctional crops where by-products can be valorised in view of the circular economy and the bioeconomy. The physiology and propagation of tree and herbaceous plants are also illustrated and the method of planting/cultivation are described. The varietal choice and the main techniques of breeding are described to underline the importance of the genotype as well as of the traditional and made in Italy products. Particular attention is given to the ripening indices of fruit and vegetable products with notes on post-harvest problems useful to preserve the quality of the products. The general part is concluded with a global vision on food production and consumption, considering the challenges to be faced for feeding the planet without exhausting its resources, and on the transition towards the sustainability of production systems.
The special part of the course is focused on the presentation of families of important species with information on taxonomy, historical elements and references to related art and traditions, botany, economic importance, nutritional and health value, use; particular attention is given to intraspecific genetic diversity and to the cultivation of quality products in the main tree and herbaceous agricultural species treated with emphasis on the varietal panorama and on the intended use of the product obtained (fresh market or processing). The tree species treated are olive, vine, apple, pear, peach, apricot, cherry, dried fruit, citrus, kiwi and minor fruits, tropical and subtropical crops while the herbaceous species concern cereals, legumes, oilseeds, sugar, and fruit, tuber, inflorescence, leaf vegetables. Aromatic species are also treated. The knowledge acquired is useful to the student for understanding the management choices based on the destination of the product (fresh market or processing), and to make a critical choice of fruit and vegetable products on the basis of the agronomic techniques adopted to obtain them.

Core Documentation

PER LA PARTE GENERALE
 Il campo nel piatto. Sonnino A. e Bacchetta L. (curatori). 2018. Informat Edizioni Roma
 Manuale di ortofrutticoltura - a cura di Sansavini S. e Ranalli P. Edagricole il sole 24ore
 Colelli G e Inglese P, 2021 Gestione della qualità e conservazione dei prodotti ortofrutticoli Edagricole pa 445
 Pisante M e Stagnari F, 2018. Agricoltura blu. La vita Italiana dell’Agricoltura Conservativa Tecnica &Pratica pag 145
 Orticoltura. Principi e pratica. Pardossi Alberto, Prosdocimi Gianquinto Giorgio, Santamaria Pietro, Incrocci Luca. 2018 Edagricole
 Chi possiede i frutti della terra. Fabio Ciconte. 2022. Edizioni Laterza.

PER LA PARTE SPECIALE
 Gentile A, Inglese P, Tagliavini M 2022. Arboricoltura speciale Edagricole pag 742;
 Il manuale del biologico a cura di Caccioni D e Colombo L, 2012. Edagricole 592 pag;
 Corazzina E 2022. Coltivare la vite Edagricole pag 430
 Chiej Gamacchio R 1995. Riconoscimento e Uso delle piante selvatiche. Pratici &Facili. Pag 320
 Voltolina G, 2017. Piante officinali dalla coltivazione alla vendita nell’azienda agricola multifunzionale. Edizioni l’Informatore Agrario pag 255;
 Coltivazioni erbacee 1. Cereali e colture industriali. Giuliano Mosca e Amedeo Reyneri (curatori). 2023. Edagricole
 Coltivazioni Erbacee – piante oleifere, da zucchero, da fibra, orticole e aromatiche. Vol.2. Baldoni Remigio e Giardini Luigi (curatori). 2001. Pàtron Editore
 Orticoltura mediterranea sostenibile, Romano Tesi. 2010. Pàtron Editore.

Reference Bibliography

Teaching aids for both the general and special parts are distributed to students. Multimedia materials is available on the teaching platform. Scientific and popular publications are indicated by the teachers to students during the course.

Attendance

Attendance is not mandatory but highly recommended

Type of evaluation

The learning assessment begins in the classroom with the assignment of scientific articles related to the different lessons, which are given to volunteer students who orally present them to the other students in the dedicated lesson using tools such as power point or other. During the lessons, participatory activities are then promoted such as collectively answering questions/tests prepared by the teacher on the previous lessons. An optional intermediate written test is then proposed; this is non-selective with respect to each other and is organized in 30 multiple choice questions. The intermediate written test focuses on the general part of the course. The expected time for the written test is one hour, followed by the collective correction of the answers. This will be followed by the oral test which essentially focuses on insights, also taking into account the errors in the written tests, this aiming to verify the student's preparation, the level of actual understanding of the concepts, and the ability to apply them in real contexts. For the overall assessment of the exam, the determination of the final grade considers the assessment of the intermediate written test, the level and the quality of knowledge of the topics, the oral presentation, the ability to use technical terms, the ability to critically analyse a topic and to connect the topics under examination.

Programme

The program of both modules TREE CROPS and HERBACEOUS CROPS is divided into a general and a special part, essentially focused on the quality of agricultural production as a function of the vegetative-productive cycle of the species, the genetic improvement activities, the main agronomic techniques, and the post-harvest practices.
In the general part of the course, the concept of food quality with the declination in its attributes and factors influencing it is explained; the issues of agroecosystem, agroecology and sustainable production systems including precision agriculture techniques are addressed, the main natural and agricultural resources and the cultivation methods are described (notes on the main agricultural processes, on integrated agriculture as well as on organic and biodynamic management and on conservative agriculture) along with the issues inherent to plant breeding and to the concept of multifunctional crops where by-products can be valorised in view of the circular economy and the bioeconomy. The physiology and propagation of tree and herbaceous plants are also illustrated and the method of planting/cultivation are described. The varietal choice and the main techniques of breeding are described to underline the importance of the genotype as well as of the traditional and made in Italy products. Particular attention is given to the ripening indices of fruit and vegetable products with notes on post-harvest problems useful to preserve the quality of the products. The general part is concluded with a global vision on food production and consumption, considering the challenges to be faced for feeding the planet without exhausting its resources, and on the transition towards the sustainability of production systems.
The special part of the course is focused on the presentation of families of important species with information on taxonomy, historical elements and references to related art and traditions, botany, economic importance, nutritional and health value, use; particular attention is given to intraspecific genetic diversity and to the cultivation of quality products in the main tree and herbaceous agricultural species treated with emphasis on the varietal panorama and on the intended use of the product obtained (fresh market or processing). The tree species treated are olive, vine, apple, pear, peach, apricot, cherry, dried fruit, citrus, kiwi and minor fruits, tropical and subtropical crops while the herbaceous species concern cereals, legumes, oilseeds, sugar, and fruit, tuber, inflorescence, leaf vegetables. Aromatic species are also treated. The knowledge acquired is useful to the student for understanding the management choices based on the destination of the product (fresh market or processing), and to make a critical choice of fruit and vegetable products on the basis of the agronomic techniques adopted to obtain them.

Core Documentation

FOR THE GENERAL PART
 Il campo nel piatto. Sonnino A. e Bacchetta L. (curatori). 2018. Informat Edizioni Roma
 Manuale di ortofrutticoltura - a cura di Sansavini S. e Ranalli P. Edagricole il sole 24ore
 Colelli G e Inglese P, 2021 Gestione della qualità e conservazione dei prodotti ortofrutticoli Edagricole pa 445
 Pisante M e Stagnari F, 2018. Agricoltura blu. La vita Italiana dell’Agricoltura Conservativa Tecnica &Pratica pag 145
 Orticoltura. Principi e pratica. Pardossi Alberto, Prosdocimi Gianquinto Giorgio, Santamaria Pietro, Incrocci Luca. 2018 Edagricole
 Chi possiede i frutti della terra. Fabio Ciconte. 2022. Edizioni Laterza.

FOR THE SPECIALPART
 Gentile A, Inglese P, Tagliavini M 2022. Arboricoltura speciale Edagricole pag 742;
 Il manuale del biologico a cura di Caccioni D e Colombo L, 2012. Edagricole 592 pag;
 Corazzina E 2022. Coltivare la vite Edagricole pag 430
 Chiej Gamacchio R 1995. Riconoscimento e Uso delle piante selvatiche. Pratici &Facili. Pag 320
 Voltolina G, 2017. Piante officinali dalla coltivazione alla vendita nell’azienda agricola multifunzionale. Edizioni l’Informatore Agrario pag 255;
 Coltivazioni erbacee 1. Cereali e colture industriali. Giuliano Mosca e Amedeo Reyneri (curatori). 2023. Edagricole
 Coltivazioni Erbacee – piante oleifere, da zucchero, da fibra, orticole e aromatiche. Vol.2. Baldoni Remigio e Giardini Luigi (curatori). 2001. Pàtron Editore
 Orticoltura mediterranea sostenibile, Romano Tesi. 2010. Pàtron Editore.

Reference Bibliography

Teaching aids for both the general and special parts are distributed to students. Multimedia materials is available on the teaching platform. Scientific and popular publications are indicated by the teachers to students during the course.

Attendance

Attendance is not mandatory but highly recommended

Type of evaluation

The learning assessment begins in the classroom with the assignment of scientific articles related to the different lessons, which are given to volunteer students who orally present them to the other students in the dedicated lesson using tools such as power point or other. During the lessons, participatory activities are then promoted such as collectively answering questions/tests prepared by the teacher on the previous lessons. An optional intermediate written test is then proposed; this is non-selective with respect to each other and is organized in 30 multiple choice questions. The intermediate written test focuses on the general part of the course. The expected time for the written test is one hour, followed by the collective correction of the answers. This will be followed by the oral test which essentially focuses on insights, also taking into account the errors in the written tests, this aiming to verify the student's preparation, the level of actual understanding of the concepts, and the ability to apply them in real contexts. For the overall assessment of the exam, the determination of the final grade considers the assessment of the intermediate written test, the level and the quality of knowledge of the topics, the oral presentation, the ability to use technical terms, the ability to critically analyse a topic and to connect the topics under examination.