Division of Fruits and Horticultural Technology ICAR- Indian Agricultural Research Institute New Delhi – 110 012 1 Fundamental of Fruit Production K. Usha Madhubala Thakre Amit Kumar Goswami Nayan Deepak, G Division of Fruits and Horticultural Technology ICAR- Indian Agricultural Research Institute New Delhi – 110 012 2 Citation: K. Usha, Madhubala Thakre, Amit Kumar Goswami and Nayan Deepak, G (2015): Fundamental of Fruit production, Division of Fruits and Horticultural Technology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi. Edited and prepared by: K. Usha, Madhubala Thakre, Amit Kumar Goswami and Nayan Deepak, G Published by: K. Usha Head (Acting) Division of Fruits and Horticultural Technology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute New Delhi- 110 012 3 PREFACE India has diverse climates and soil for cultivation of horticulture crops providing ample opportunities for the development of fruit industry but the greatest challenge in present is to produce sufficient fruit to feed the ever-increasing human population. This demands infusion of technology for an efficient utilization of resources for deriving higher output per unit of input with excellent quality of the produce within short span of time.In the present era of open economy; it has become increasingly necessary that our produce is competitive, both in the domestic as well as in international markets. This would be possible only through deployment of high-tech application and precision farming methods. Fruits are very important for human beings and also play an important role in religious practices, mythology and art. They are not only delicious but also have many nutrients which are necessary for human health. India is the second largest producer of fruits in the world. Fruit production requires a lot of science and some basic fundamental knowledge to grow them successfully. This book compiles many fundamental issues of fruit production like layout and planting, many cultural practices, growth and bearing habits of fruit crops, unfruitfulness etc. Understanding of all these topics will help the students for proper knowledge of fundamentals of fruit production. I hope that this book would also be helpful for growers, nurserymen, farmers, teachers, scientist, extension officer and all those who wish to become familiar with the topic in relation to their professional interest. We have tried to keep the language as simple and straightforward as possible and consistent with accurate representation of the content. Every effort has been made to present the ideas in very easy and understandable language and the interests of each reader. Finally, I would like to thank one and all who have contributed directly or indirectly in bringing out this book. K.Usha Madhubala Thakre Amit Kumar Goswami Nayan Deepak, G 4 CONTENTS Sl. No. Chapters Page no. Orchard layout and establishment of Fruit Orchard –Principles and 1. 6-33 Practices – K. Usha 2. Frost, Frost protection and Winter injury – Ashok Yadav 34-51 3. Bearing Habit of Fruit Crops – Madhubala Thakre and Nayan Deepak, G 52-62 4. Growth and Development of Fruit crops – Nayan Deepak, G 63-69 5. Methods of irrigation in fruit crops – Amit Kumar Goswami 70-78 6. Water and Nutrient Management for Fruit Crops – M. Hasan 79-88 Endogenous and Exogenous factors responsible for Flowering in Fruit 7. 89-97 crops – K. Usha, M.K. Verma and Nayan Deepak, G Factors Affecting Fruit Set, Development and Quality – Nirmal Sharma 8. 98-110 and Amit Kumar 9. Fruit drop causes and control – K. Usha and Nayan Deepak, G 111-119 10. Harvesting and Packing of Fruit Crops – Madhubala Thakre 120-123 Practical Manual 1. Identification of Fruit varieties 126-153 2. Propagation of Fruit trees 154-160 3. Rootstock quality and important Rootstocks of Fruit crops 161-169 4. Layout of modern Nursery 170-173 5. Packaging of Nursery Plants 174-175 6. Preparation and application of PGR in Fruit crops 176-178 7. Planning and Layout of orchard 179-181 8. Training and Pruning 182-185 9. Measurement of Soil moisture in Fruit orchards 186-187 10. Alternate Bearing 188-190 11. Maturity indices, handling and packing techniques 191-196 12. Fruit drop: types, causes and control measures 197-200 Determination of Specific gravity, TSS, acidity, ascorbic acid and 13. 201-208 sugar 14. Nutrient assessment in fruit crops 209-212 15. Major Diseases of Fruit Crops and their Remedial Measures 213-227 16. Rejuvenation of senile orchards 228-231 17. Frost damage: causes and control 232-238 18. Effect of Air Pollution on Fruit Crops 239-244 5 Chapter- 1 Orchard layout and establishment of Fruit Orchard –Principles and Practices K.Usha Division of Fruits and Horticultural Technology, ICAR-IARI, New Delhi Growing fruits can be fun, delightful experience and a challenging hobby. There are several good reasons to grow fruits. Fruits add beautiful colour and variety to your garden. Large amounts of fruit can be grown in a relatively small area.Store-bought fruits are often picked, shipped, and sold before they are fully ripened and generally stock selections that look prettiest but are not necessarily the best tasting. In addition, fresh garden fruits are a good source of vitamins; minerals, carbohydrates, fibre (Table 1) and will provide your family with flavorful, delicious and nutritious food. As an added bonus, the fruits you grow will taste much better than the fruits you find in the grocery store. Establishment of an orchard are a long term investment and require critical planning, selection of proper location and site, planting system and planting distance, varieties and the nursery plants to ensure maximum production. Even if you have limited space, you can still enjoy growing fresh fruits in your garden by growing fruit plants in containers. You can grow any fruit tree in a container for a few years and then transplant it. You can also choose a dwarf variety, which is well suited to living in a container. If you carefully choose the kind and varieties of a fruit before you plant, you can harvest dessert-quality fruit from early summer through the fall. Many fruit plants are aesthetically pleasing and are good for “edible landscaping.” Some fruits, such as apple, citrus, blueberries and figs, make outstanding ornamental plants. Some people find a natural setting with plants placed throughout the landscape most aesthetically pleasing. But this makes maintenance more challenging. How to choose plants for your orchard? There are so many different kinds of fruits and varieties available. How then to decide which to grow? The type and mix of species chosen depends on food preferences, soil and climatic conditions, availability of local materials and seeds. Start with quality. When soft berries are home-grown, flavour is outstanding and they can be harvested when fully ripe, plump, and sweet, without concern for shipping and ability to perish. The amount of yard space available will be another deciding factor. Most fruit trees come in varieties that are dwarf, semi-dwarf, and standard. Dwarf trees stay about 8- to 10-feet tall and are perfect for small yards. There are even dwarf fruit trees, such as columnar apples, figs, and pomegranates that fit well in containers, allowing you to move them as needed. Semi-dwarf trees grow about 10- to 15-feet tall and are more productive than dwarfs. Standard-sized trees grow 20 feet or more and are most productive. Sketch out how much room you have in your garden to determine which type of fruit tree you should plant. Another consideration is the size of the tree. Choose between growing small fruits - berries that grow on small plants, vines, or bushes - or larger tree fruits. Small fruit trees especially dwarf and semi dwarf varieties (Table 3) are the most exotic plants you can choose for home garden as they require minimum space and come to bearing within one or two years after 6 planting. Their lush foliage, exotic flowers and edible fruits make captivating and enchanting home garden. Also, it is convenient to do cultural and pest control operations. Depending on water availability, gardening may be practiced year-round or limited to seasons. The length of your growing season is also important, as some cultivars require a long frost-free period to ripen fruit. Some also require a minimum number of “growing degree days” (GDDs), essentially a measure of how much warm weather you have at your site. Choose fruit plants accordingly. Now narrow down your choices to fit the space available. The first rule is, plant only fruits that you would like to eat. Then select fruits that are most suited to your area, climate (Table 2), as this will give you minimal disease problems and a better yield. Another consideration is the variety of fruit tree you're growing. When choosing cultivars, look for those with outstanding hardiness, disease resistance, and fruit quality. Many of the newer cultivars provide top quality fruits not often available in local markets.You should not plant strawberries or raspberries where crops that are susceptible to Verticillium wilt have been grown (these include potatoes, tomatoes, eggplants, and peppers). Choose cultivars resistant to Verticillium wilt. Some fruits are easier to grow whilesome fruit plants require a lot of care and don‟t come into full production for several years. Strawberries aren‟t much harder to grow and bear fruit quickly. Most of the other fruit trees such as mango, citrus, grape, papaya, banana, apples, peaches, and pears require some knowledge and attention to pollination, pruning, spraying, fertilizing, and other kinds of care. While consulting a professional is often the best course of action to resolve any serious fruit tree problems, knowing few basics about fruit tree care can save you money and give you the satisfaction of caring your own fruit garden.Hence, carefully consider selection of fruit plants, design of your planting, including arrangement, spacing, cultivar selection, number of plants, and aesthetics.