1) Summary of basic genetic principles: trait, gene, locus, allele, genotype and phenotype. Dominance and recessivity, structure and composition of chromosomes, ploidy.
2) Causes and types of variability in forest stands: phenotypic, genetic and environmental variability; experimental methodologies to separate genetic and environmental effects.
3) Population genetics: Hardy-Weinberg law, effect of inbreeding and evolutionary factors (mutation, migration or gene flow, selection and genetic drift) on the genetic structure of forest species populations.
4) Quantitative genetics.
- Characteristics of quantitative traits.
- Study of the amount of phenotypic variation for a quantitative trait; statistical tools: samples and populations, frequency distributions, mean, variance and standard deviation, correlation and regression analyses.
- Estimating the relative contribution of environmental and genetic effects on the observed phenotypic variability: heritability and its estimation in forest species.
- Estimating the genotypic value of parental phenotypes by the analysis of offspring: clonal and breeding values; general combining ability and specific combining ability.
- Genetic gain or genetic progress in a tree improvement program: realized gain and predicted gain on the basis of quantitative genetics theory; clonal and breeding genetic gain.
- Genetic correlations: genetic correlations between two distinct traits (traits/traits correlations); genetics correlations of the same trait expressed at different ages (juvenile/mature correlations); genetic correlations of the same trait expressed in different environments (genotype x environment interaction).
5) Geographic Variation: races, clines and ecotypes.
6) Genetic improvements under natural regeneration systems.
7) Basic principles of genetic improvement of forest trees.
- Scope and structure of forest tree improvement programs.
- Population types and activities in the breeding cycle of tree improvement programs.
- Characteristics of different types of populations: base population, selected population, breeding population, external population.
- Propagation population: clonal seed orchards, seedling seed orchards.
- Objectives and functions of genetic tests in the breeding cycle of tree improvement programs.

Notes and slides of the lectures provided by the teacher.
Textbooks: Forest Genetics (2009), Editors: White T.L., Adams W.T., Neale D.B. ISBN 9781845932855; G. Barcaccia e M. Falcinelli, Genetica e Genomica, Vol. II Miglioramento Genetico, Liguori Editore, 2005.

1. Wood macroscopic characters: texture, grain, sapwood heartwood, growth rings. Original defects in the material: (knots, grain deviation, reaction wood, cracks ... ..).
Laboratory of macroscopic description and wood identification, color measurement, roughness.
2. Microscopic wood structure: conifers and hardwoods species.
Laboratory of microscopic identification of national and imported woods.
3. Principles of wood chemical structure
Laboratory of simple analytical and spectroscopic techniques to measure chemical wood compounds.
3. Dendrochronology, radiocarbon, wiggle matching.
Laboratory of dendrochronology, sampling for wiggle matching analysis.
4. Wood anomalies and wood deterioration: abiotic anomalies (surface photochemical reactions, reological behaviour), biodeterioration (wood decay, chromogen fungi, bacteria, insects). Durability and use classes.
Laboratory; identification of the main wood degradation agents, simple wood durability tests, identification of use classes in wooden artifacts.
5. Physical properties in wood:
density, wood water relationships (shrinkages, swelling, Hygroscopicity); wood-electricity, wood-sound, wood heat

Laboratory of physical properties measurement, moisture, shrinkages ans swelling, resistographic analysis.
6. Mechanical properties: compression, bending, hardness, tension,
Laboratory for measurement of wood mechanical properties: deformation, MOR, MOE, Rupture loading.
7. Certification of quality in wood and wood products. Principles for quality grading (round, sawn, etc.)
Visit to companies involved in wood working in the territory and during the summer excercitation in Pieve Tesino

Nardi Berti (2006). Contributi Scientifico Pratici per una migliore conoscenza del legno
Dispense Bonamini e Uzielli e Zanuttini: Dispense di Tecnologia del Legno, Università degli Studi di Firenze.
Romagnoli M- Dendrocronologia per i Beni Culturali e l’ambiente. Nardini Editore.
Gambetta A 2010. Insetti e Funghi che attaccano il legno. Nardini editore, Firenze.
Liotta G. Insetti che attaccano il legno. Nardini editore
Altri testi di riferimento
Giordano G., 1984. Tecnologia del Legno
Palanti S. 2013. Durabilità del Legno.
Dispense distribuite a lezione dal docente.
Normativa tecnica di riferimento
Nocetti M. 2013. I Difetti del legno. Quaderni di Sherwood, Ecoalleco libri
Borghini e Massafra (a cura di) 2002. Legni da Ebanisteria.