| Department of Agricultural Sciences
55 % Department of Plant Biology 45 % | |||||||||||||||||||
| Earliest Possible Year | MSc. 1 year to MSc. 2 year | ||||||||||||||||||
| Duration | One block | ||||||||||||||||||
| Credits | 7.5 (ECTS) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Course Level | MSc | ||||||||||||||||||
| Examination | Final Examination oral examination All aids allowed Description of Examination: Oral examination of the project report and examination requirements Weight: 100% 7-point scale, internal examiner | ||||||||||||||||||
| Requirement For Attending Exam | Project report and 3-4 excercise reports | ||||||||||||||||||
| Organisation of Teaching | Teaching form are lectures, seminars, excercises, excursions, and projekt work. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Block Placement | Block 3 Week Structure: B | ||||||||||||||||||
| Teaching Language | English | ||||||||||||||||||
| Restrictions | None | ||||||||||||||||||
| Areas of Competence the Course Will Address | |||||||||||||||||||
| Basic Science: Basic knowledge on physiology, pathology, biochemistry and molecular biology of plant products during postharvest period Applied Science: - Knowledge of external and internal factors, influencing quality - Modern production chains management, i.e. from place of production to the place of consumption. - Understanding of the underlying physiology and biochemistry of plant products during ripening, harvesting, storage and distribution - Postharvest technology incl. postharvest disease control - Knowledge of the biology of postharvest diseases and how they affect quality of plant products - Understanding of the underlying physiology, biochemistry and pathological aspects which can lead to postharvest diseases of plant products during ripening, harvesting, storage and distribution - Knowledge of the risk of mycotoxin production as result of attack by postharvest diseases - Knowledge about quality in relation to values of consumers, distributors and producers | |||||||||||||||||||
| Course Objectives | |||||||||||||||||||
| The aim of the course is to give basic knowledge about modern production chains and postharvest biology of plants. Focus is on understanding of physiology, biochemistry and pathology of plant products in relation to quality, postharvest handling and storage. The importance of genetic material and preharvest factors, as well as environmental conditions and handling during distribution and storage for quality, postharvest diseases and shelf life of plant produce will be discussed. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Course Contents | |||||||||||||||||||
| Modern plant production has changed from local production to global production chains. The organisation of production chains necessitates knowledge of product quality and postharvest biology to maintain high value produce. This course will give a fundamental understanding of many aspects of postharvest biology, and internal and external factors determining quality and postharvest performance. The content of the course is postharvest biology, especially physiological and biochemical processes determining quality and longevity of plant products, postharvest technology, handling and transportation, storage, physiological disorders during storage as well as postharvest diseases caused by bacteria and fungi, maturation and maturity indices, postharvest physiology of flowers, distribution of ornamentals, evaluation of quality, food safety, nutrition and bioactive substances, medical plants, biotechnology as tool to improve quality and longevity, quality assessment, consumer preferences and behaviour. Another focus of the course are postharvest diseases caused by bacteria and fungi and how these relates to changes in physiology and biochemistry of harvested products during handling, storage and distribution will be addressed. The important role of mycotoxins for plant product quality will also be addressed. The course will be divided in one part with compulsory subjects, and one part with different elective topics. The course is structured as follows: - Introductory part - Factors determining quality and postharvest perfomance - Postharvest physiology and biochemistry - Plant pathology: Biology of postharvest diseases and the risk of mycotoxin production - Study in a group on a special (elective) subject | |||||||||||||||||||
| Teaching And Learning Methods | |||||||||||||||||||
| The course will be structured in lectures, discussions, exercises, excursions and a small group project. The course comprises overviews, from general understanding to expert knowledge on key topics, and learning is based on lectures as well as independent learning through exercises, excursions and project work. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Learning Outcome | |||||||||||||||||||
| Stipulated in "Areas of Competence the Course Will Address" | |||||||||||||||||||
| Course Litterature | |||||||||||||||||||
| Kader, A. (2002). Postharvest Technology of Horticultural Crops. 3ed. ISBN 1-879906-51-1 (it is not compulsory to buy the book) Articles from journals to be decided | |||||||||||||||||||
| Course Coordinator | |||||||||||||||||||
| Renate Müller, ren@life.ku.dk, Department of Agricultural Sciences/Crop Science, Phone: 35333534 Dan Funck Jensen, dfj@life.ku.dk, Department of Plant Biology/Plant Pathology Section, Phone: 35333304 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Study Board | |||||||||||||||||||
| Study Committee NSN | |||||||||||||||||||
| Course Scope | |||||||||||||||||||
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