Ree Fru-Bqe - Fruit Breeding and Quality Evaluation Experience

A.Y. 2021/2022
3
Max ECTS
48
Overall hours
SSD
AGR/03 AGR/09
Language
Italian
Learning objectives
1. Skills and trials in the fruit supply chain; 2. Germplasm evaluation required to breed fruit varieties; 3. Management challenges of the orchard related to fruit quality; 4. Trials on the post-harvest side; 5. Instrumental monitoring provided along the supply chain in order to acquire basic skills on multivariate modeling of spectral data; 6. Calculate predictive models for the evaluation / comparison of the estimation performance of the optical instrumentation.
Expected learning outcomes
The task will be addressed with a professional and scientific approach: starting from field trials related to the analysis of germplasm and agronomic aspects of the orchard, up to shelf life tests in post harvest to highlight the behavior of the fruit. The monitoring phases and the related instrumentations will be the subject of particular investigations. In particular, the trials will be characterized by the use of QualitySpec Trek (portable instrument based on NIR technology) which will be used to develop chemometric models intended to assess the quality of the fruit in the various stages, from pre-ripening to consumption.
Single course

This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.

Course syllabus and organization

Single session

Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
More specific information of the delivery modes of training activities for academic year 2021/2022 will be provided ower the coming months, based on the evolution of the public health situation.
Course syllabus
The fruits that will be the subject of the FRU-BQE laboratory will be some fruit tree crops at the 'Dotti' farm Experimental Station in Arcagna (LO).
The topics will be addressed with a professional and scientific approach, i) starting from field training for the assessment of germplasm accessions, ii) the post-harvest shelf life tests will be carried out to highlight the quality aspects and the ripening behavior of the fruit.
Instrumental investigations will be deeply taken into account. In particular, the training work will be characterized by the use of the QualitySpec Trek (up-to-date portable NIR equipment) which will be used to develop the intended chemiometric models to assess fruit quality behaviour, even on tree.
Prerequisites for admission
Fundamentals of arboriculture (tree crops science): morphology and biology elements of the cultivated tree; the genetic bases of the varietal variability and propagation (cultivar and clone concepts); the agronomic bases of cultivation (orchard management) tree-physical relationship) and the influence on product quality.
Teaching methods
Field surveys on the evolution of fruit ripening in the field; chemometric laboratory analysis, both destructive and non-destructive (NIR and alike technologies).
Teaching Resources
Text book: Sansavini, S., Costa, G., Gucci, R., Inglese, P., Ramina, A., Xiloyannis, C., and Desjardins,Y., editors. (2019). Principles of Modern Fruit Science (Leuven, Belgium: ISHS).
Assessment methods and Criteria
Evaluation (passed / not passed), based on field and laboratory works.
AGR/03 - ARBORICULTURE AND FRUITCULTURE
AGR/09 - AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY AND MECHANIZATION
Field activity: 28 hours
Laboratories: 20 hours
Professor(s)
Reception:
by appointment only
Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences - via Celoria 2, Milano
Reception:
appointment
Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences - Production, Landscape and Agroenergy