MORFOBIOFISIOLOGIA DELLE COLTURE ERBACEE

The course aims to guide students to learn basic concepts and to acquire skills on the herbaceous species of major interest for Italian agriculture, in the current and near future agricultural production
scenario. Each crop is treated considering the following aspects: taxonomy and description of the botanical and physiological traits; origin, diffusion and economic importance; biology and climatic,
pedologic and nutritional requirements; objectives and methods of breeding activity, and main cultivated varieties; agronomic management; main uses of products and by-products.

Lessons and working group (42hours).
If the course will be held in mixed or remote mode, the necessary changes to what was previously stated may be introduced, in order to comply with the planned program reported in the syllabus.
*Learning assessment may also be carried out on line, if the conditions require it.

As a guarantee of equal opportunities and in compliance with current laws, interested students can ask for a personal interview in order to plan any compensatory and/or dispensatory measures, based on their specific needs and on teaching objectives of the discipline.
It is also possible to ask the departmental contacts of CInAP (Center for Active and Participatory Integration - Services for Disabilities and/or DSAs).

Introduction to the course: agrosystem and its components (abiotic, merobiotic, biotic); influence of anthropic activity. Morphology, physiology and ecophysiology of cultivated herbaceous species. Economic importance of field crops in the world in Europe, in Italy. Classification criteria for field crops. Cereals: soft and hard wheat; barley, maize and minor species. Grain legumes: broad bean, chickpea, lentil, bean, lupine, grasspea, pea, soybean. Oil crops: rapeseed and other brassica species, sunflower. Open-field vegetables: artichoke, potato, tomato. Hints on fiber, forage and bioenergy crops.

TEXTBOOK INFORMATION
1. Baldoni R., Giardini L. (coord.). Coltivazioni erbacee - Cereali e proteaginose. Pàtron Ed.
2. Baldoni R., Giardini L. (coord.). Coltivazioni erbacee - Piante oleifere, da zucchero, da fibra, orticole ed aromatiche. Pàtron Ed.
3. Baldoni R., Giardini L. (coord.). Coltivazioni erbacee - Foraggere e tappeti erbosi. Pàtron Ed.
Teaching aids provided by the teacher (ppt presentations of the lessons, notes on the topics covered).