Title of Course:   Advanced Fruit Production
 					Course No  -722 
Jordan University of Sci. and Tech                               
Faculty:  Agriculture                                                      
Department: Plant Production                                      
semester: Spring 2007 
Place:
Time: 09.45- 11.15 M & W
Office hours: 11:30-12:30 M & W
Instructor:  Nawaf M. Freihat
		
 General Course Objectives:     
	The purpose of this course is to familiarize the student with the latest advances in fruit production.  A study and interpretation of current research findings will be undertaken.  Application of research developments to modern fruit growing will be emphasized by the discussion of fundamental physiological- genetic mechanisms that influence plant growth and production.  The relationship of the environment, production practices and responses will be discussed.   Particular attention will be given to site evaluation, growth and fruiting habits of fruit trees, training and pruning systems, and cultural management practices.
 What you are expected to learn from this course:
	The students are expected to know how to deal with the recent and current research findings for different fruit trees, wether it is an evergreen or deciduous, this practice helps the students to think very wisely when they are to start a research in fruit trees.  In addition, to be able to apply all cultural practices needed by different kind of fruit trees.  However, students are supposed to perform different propagation methods and the relationship between scion and rootstocks.
 
   Lecture:    A discussion of the latest advances in fruit science will be presented.  Topics of discussion will include subject matter presented in the course outline.  Students will be assigned reading material and encouraged to present current research findings in group discussion.  The latest and up-to-date research findings related to new or improved practices will be discussed.

 Course contents:
 Weeks:				Subject:					Reference:    
1  				 General plant environment				1 	
				Climatic requirements of fruit trees
2  				 Fruit classification
3&4				 Rootstock/Scion Relationship				2 
				Effects of rootstocks on the scion cultivars
				Effects of scion cultivar on rootstock
5&6				   High-Density Systems				1 
				  Canopy management
				  Yield and fruit quality
7				   Cultural Practices					2
			              Fertilization and nutrition
				   Pruning 
8				    Flowering						2
				   Juvenility
				   Flowering habit

9				    Pollination and fruit set				2 
 			   	   Factors affecting pollination and fruit set
				   Hormone relationships
10				    Growth and Fruit Thinning				2 
11 				   Crop Maturity
				   Physiological and hormonal relationships
				   Influence of environment	
12				    Harvest/ Post-Harvest				2 
				   Pre-harvest treatment
			   	   Mechanical harvest
	 			   Post-harvest physiology
13				   Growth regulants					2 
			     	  Use of growth regulants and its effects
14				   Dormancy and Plant Hardiness			2
				  Cold acclimation
 		   		  Freezing injury
				  Hardiness
				  Spring frost protection
15				  

 References
 1.  Modern Fruit Science, Childers, N, F., J. R. Morris, and G. S. Sibbett. 10 th ed. 1995.
	Horticultural Publications, 3906 NW 31 Place, Gainesville, Florida 32606
2.  Journals 
 
 Exams
	First, mid-terms, and the final examinations.  The final examinations will be comprehensive.  The date for the first and mid-terms will be set according to your convenience.
 
 Grading System 
 Presentation                 10%
First                              20%
Mid-terms                    20%
Final (comprehensive) 50%