Fruit Tree Production

Origin, distribution of their production and commercial uses of cultivated fruit, wood and ornamental trees. Statistics and economy of Italian and European production.-Morphology and physiology of roots, shoots, leaves, flowers and fruits and their relationships. Fases and rates of root and shoot growth and development.-Flower bud formation, flowering, pollination, fruit set, drop, growth and development. Ripening and fruit quality, harvest and storage.-Manipulation of growth and development, planting systems, tree shape and pruning.-Water relations, mineral nutrition, nutritional bilance.-Seed and vegetative propagation, grafting, micropropagation-Effects of environmental factors and soil on fruit growth and development. -Breeding and selection-Introductive pomology of the main species (pome, stone, soft fruits, citrus, kiwi) Practicals Orchard visits at different growth phases.