i. Course Title HT 203- PRINCIPLES OF FRUIT PRODUCTION
ii. Course aim:
Explain the different concepts in various fruit plant growth and development and be competent in techniques involved in commercial production and handing of fruits
iii. Course expected learning outcome (s)
By the end of this course, students should be able to:
• Name and describe various tropical, temperate fruits crops
• Demonstrate knowledge of the concepts of fruit plant growth and development.
• Describe, compare and contrast growth requirements of individual tropical, subtropical and temperate fruits of economic importance
• Demonstrate and apply the knowledge of propagation, orchard establishment and management of fruit crops of economic importance
• Describe, compare and apply the techniques and practices for harvesting, post-harvest management and marketing of selected tropical, sub-tropical and temperate fruit crops
iv. Course status: Core
v. Credit rating: 8 Credits
vi. Total hours spent: 80 hours
Lectures 36 hrs
Tutorial 04 hrs
Assignments 08 hrs
Independent Study 04 hrs
Practical 48 hrs
vii. Course contents
Classification and adaptability of temperate, subtropical and tropical fruits species. Anatomical, physiological and reproduction concepts applied to fruit crops. Fruit crops establishment and cropping systems: propagation, site selection, land preparation, orchard layout, spacing and fruit crop planting. Intercropping of fruit crops with other crops: Strengths and limitations. Production of selected tropical, subtropical and temperate fruits with emphasis on economic importance, origin and distribution, botany, ecology, physiology, propagation, cultural practices and crop protection. Fruit crops harvesting, post-harvest handling and marketing techniques. Crops to include (but not limited to): avocado, banana, citrus, mango, pineapple, grape, papaya, passion fruit, cashew, macadamia, peach, apple, pear, plum and strawberry.
Practical skills:
Identification of fruit crops, anatomy of herbaceous and woody fruit crops. Propagation techniques of fruit crops. Fruit orchard layout, establishment and management. Maturity indices of different fruits. Fruit harvesting techniques. Different techniques for shelf life extension of fresh fruits.
viii. Teaching and learning activities
The course will be delivered through lectures, practical sessions, seminars/tutorials and independent study sessions
ix. Assessment methods
The course will be assessed by quizzes, assignments, seminar presentation reports, practical reports, practical tests, theory tests and end of semester University examination.
x. Reading list
Samson, J. A. (1986). Tropical Fruits – Tropical Agricultural Series (2nd Edition), Longman Scientific and Technical, New York.
Janick, J. (1979). Horticultural Science (3rd Edition). W.H. Freeman and Company, USA.
Ryugo, K. (1988). Fruit culture. Its science and art. J. Wiley and Sons Inc., NY.
VanEpenhijsen, C.W. (1976). Deciduous fruits in Tanzania. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Technical Assistance Department, The Hague, The Netherlands.