Fruits have a high nutrient content and are important sources of vitamins A, B, and B6, as well as potassium, magnesium, copper, andiron. Fruit contains fiber and are high in antioxidants.
The branch of horticulture dealing with producing, storing, processing, and marketing fruits and nuts is called Pomology.
Fruits and nuts can be produced commercially or by the home gardeners.
Commercial fruit and nut production can be broken down into two distinct areas :-
тАв Fresh marketing
тАв Processing.
2010-11 estimates that about 12% contribution was given by India in total world productions of fruits. Although India is largest producer of mango, banana, papaya in the world.
IndiaтАЩs horticulture production is comparatively lower in productivity. Both just in case of fruits & vegetables productivity of India (11.7 & 17.3 tonnes per hectare ) it is about half of the productivity of USA ( 22.2 and 31.4 tonnes per hactare).
Most fruits are grown for both the fresh market and processing with more than half being produced for the fresh market.
The largest fruit-producing states are :-
IтАЩm Tapsendra Patel and in this article we will discuss the types of fruit, as well as planting, growing, and storing of fruit.
Fruits can be obtained from a wide variety of plants, including the trees grown in orchards to small herbaceous plants.
Small Fruits
Small fruits is the collective term used for plants that produce edible fruits that are relatively small in size. Compared to fruit trees, small fruit plants are smaller and, in terms of growth habit, may be herbs, vines, bushes, or shrubs.
Small fruits are perennials and are often woody тАЬthey are dicot angiosperms and typically cultivated in temperate regionsтАЭ.
They are propagated vegetatively rather than by seed.
Most small fruits can be harvested within one or two years of planting and are typically easier to cultivate than fruit trees.
Examples of small fruits are :-
тАв Grapes
тАв Strawberries
тАв Blackberries
Nut trees
Nut trees are trees that bear closed fruiting, single-seeded fruits with a hard pericarp or shell.
Examples are :-
тАв Chestnut
тАв Almonds
тАв Pecans
тАв Peanuts.
Types of Fruits
Fruits have many different forms and shapes.
The three major types of fruits are :-
тАв Sample fruits
тАв Aggregate fruits
тАв Multiple fruits.
Simple fruits
Simple fruits are comprised of a single ovary with or without some other flower parts, which have developed as part of the fruit.
Simple fruits can be broken down into two groups :-
A) Fruits with a fleshy pericarp. For example :- Berries.
B) Fruits with a dry pericarp. For example :- Walnuts).
Aggregate Fruit
Another type of fruit is aggregate fruit which consist of a single base of the flower with masses of similar fruitlets. For example :- blackberries and strawberries.
Multiple Fruit
The last type of fruit is multiple fruit which is comprised of ovaries of many separate and closely attached bundle of flowers. For example :- pineapple.
Principles of Site/location Selection
To select the proper site :-
These environmental factors must be considered:-
тАв Light
тАв Rainfall
тАв Wind
тАв Soil
тАв Topography
тАв Water
тАв Air pollution
тАв Plant pests.
There are economic factors to consider as well :-
тАв Land cost
тАв Availability
тАв Labor
тАв Transportation
тАв Utilities services
тАв Competition
тАв Cold storage facilities
тАв Shipping areas
тАв Offices
тАв Pesticide storage and mixing areas
тАв Storage buildings
тАв Market demands and supply capacity.
Selection of Right Cultivar
Establishing plants that produce fruit is a long-term commitment, so selecting the proper cultivar is very important and sensitive decision.
тАв The fruit crop must be readily adapted to the climate at the location selected because to grow at peak efficiency, all plants must be grown within their optimum temperature range.
тАв Fruit crops can be grown in any climate but only certain species of fruit will grow and produce well. It is very important to consider winter hardiness or how low a temperature the flower buds can tolerate and plant can withstand without damage.
тАв Fruit crops demand a consistent supply of water, and any stress leads to a reduction in quality and yields. The selected cultivar should be adaptable to the location selected.
тАв Sunlight is needed for photosynthesis because high light intensity is important for high yields and quality.
тАв A cultivar should be selected that will produce good yields and have the desired horticultural characteristics such as color, size, flavor, shape, and appearance.
тАв The cultivar should also supplied to correct marketing channel.
тАв The cultivar selected should have good resistance to pests and diseases.
Pre Land preparation
Next, the land must be prepared properly before installing the fruit crop.
тАв Soil tests are run to determine the amount of nutrients to add and whether pH to be altered or not .
тАв The soil should have good water-holding capacity.
тАв An adequate supply of water is very important in fruit production, so installing irrigation and drainage systems may be necessary at certain locations, depending on the tensiometer readings (used to measure soil moisture).
тАв Large rocks and other objects should be removed.
тАв The soil should be ploughed :-
> To remove hardpans
> To level the land
> To increase soil aeration and moisture infiltration
> To control weeds
> To incorporate crop residue.
тАв Roads within the orchard should be carefully planned and designed to maximize efficiency before installing fruit crops.
тАв According to the type of fruit crop being grown planting patterns should be laid out.
After care
After the crop has been installed proper care and maintenance helps ensure high quality and yield.
тАв Commercial fruit crops should be fertilized in a scientific manner, starting with extensive soil sampling and testing.
тАв After Soil sampling leaf analysis also be done to determine the nutrient content of the leaves and to decide how many nutrients to apply to promote good growth.
тАв Plants should be watered based on demand.
тАв Good pest control is also necessary for high yields.
тАв Pruning increases fruit quality.
тАв In fruit trees, thinning eliminates problems with biennial bearing, which is when trees fruit on alternate years.
Harvesting
Recognizing when the crop is mature is important to harvest at peak color, flavor, and overall quality.
тАв Fruits are harvested at different stages of maturity for different uses in markets.
тАв During the winter months fruit trees experience winter dormancy, so knowing when a fruit tree buds will break is important for caring of plants.
тАв Plant growth regulators (PGRs) are used to chemically modify flowers and fruits, prevent fruit drop, induce fruit abscission, control fruit ripening, and others.
тАв After fruits are mature, they must be harvested properly.
тАв Some types of fruits which will be used for processing are picked mechanically. These fruits include raspberries, blackberries, cherries, and others. Most large fruits are picked by hand.
Storage
After the fruit is harvested, it is still living, so the first step is to remove the field heat rapidly and place the fruit in the appropriate storage conditions.
Before harvesting, be prepared to market the fruits properly and thus give the products a chance to sell.
In Conclusion
now we understand the importance of Pomology.
Three main types of fruits are simple, aggregate, and multiple.
The important factors that to checked for fruit crop establishment :- site selection and necessary facilities, cultivar selection, land preparation, and proper planting.
Fruit crops also require proper care and maintenance. Farmers must understand the signs of crop maturation, using plant growth regulators, harvesting, storing, and marketing to create a successful production.
- TAPSENDRA PATEL
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