Description of the fruit nursery and plant certification. Organography in the different fruit species. Main aspects of pollination, fruit set and fertilisation in the different species. Parthenocarpy and apomixia of the fruits. Fruit development and ripening in the main species. Evaluation of fruit quality in different species; ripening indexes and methodologies. Vocationality of the environment to the cultivation of fruit species, sustainable production processes. Types, selection criteria and management of forms of farming and density of planting. Soil, canopy and harvest management techniques in relation to the soil and climate environment. Differences between Pomes and Stones and species for Nuts.
Monographic treatment of the main fruit species: actinidia, pome fruit, stone fruit, nuts, olive, vine, minor fruit and small fruit.
For each species, the following are considered: origin, distribution and prospects for crop development; botanical and biological characteristics (systematic classification, description of the plant and its organs, ontogenetic cycle and phenological phases, flower biology); climatic, soil, water and nutritional requirements; cultivar choice; propagation and rootstocks; breeding (objectives, means and results); cultivation techniques (orchard planting and management systems): density of planting, pruning, nutrition, irrigation, tillage); maturation, harvesting, conservation and use of the product; qualitative evaluation of the fruit.

Arboricoltura generale e speciale, Valli R., Edagricole
Manuale dell'Ortofrutticoltura Italiana, S. Sansavini, P. Ranalli. Edagricole (testo consigliato)
Arboricoltura generale, Baldini E., CLEUB, Bologna
Frutticoltura Speciale AAVV,. REDA

Definition of quality and intrinsic and exogenous properties. Nutritional, organoleptic, and commercial quality, safety. The qquality for different types of vegetables: roots, leaves, fruits. Gamma IV. Nitrate control in vegetables. Factors influencing quality: variety choice, environment, cultivation techniques, the stage of maturation at harvest. Strategies to improve quality: herbaceous grafting, fertilization and mineral enrichment techniques (potassium, magnesium, sulfur, silicon, calcium), irrigation, biostimulants (categories and applications). Greenhouse vs open field. The quality of vegetables grown in soilles systems. Nutraceutical greenhouses to produce functional foods.

'Orticoltura. Principi e pratica'. Edagricole. Curatori: Pardossi, Gianquinto, Santamaria, Incrocci
'Colture protette' Edagricole. Romano Tesi.
'Biostimolanti per un'agricoltura sostenibile' Ed. Informatore Agrario. Curatori: Colla, Rouphael