Fruits are a significant source of both money generating and dietary security. With an annual production of approximately 50 million tonnes from an area of about 4.0 million hectares, the nation ranks second in terms of fruit production after China. The amount of fruits that are needed to meet nutritional recommendations for our expanding population is not readily available, though. Lack of enough yield from the current area under cultivation and poor post-harvest management in various fruit crops are the main causes of the requisite quantity of fruits not being available. The information on 23 of these highly developed fruit crops, which are primarily found in arid and semi-arid regions of the country, has been compiled in the current book. The information includes information on their importance and uses, taxonomy and varieties, plant propagation, and production technologies. The main goal of writing this book was to compile information on various aspects of these underutilized and lesser-known fruit crops in order to identify the challenges and knowledge gaps to work on and develop sustainable technology for the future so that these crops can find a place in the Indian horticultural scenario and support the nation’s programmes for improving nutrition security and poverty alleviation. In this book, we intend to provide knowledge that will be helpful to educators, students, development professionals, policy-makers, fruit growers, and traders. We are confident that the knowledge provided in the book will contribute to increased production of these crops through area expansion with vegetatively multiplied high-quality plants of improved varieties, adoption of improved agrotechniques viaminimization of post-harvest losses through proper handling, and increased availability of consumer acceptable valueadded products from these lesser-known fruits.
Dr. M.S. Aneesa Rani Professor and Head Vegetable Research Station Pular-607102, Cuddalore Dt.
Ms. Manasa Jyothi PG Student Department of Fruit Science Horticultural College and Research Institute TamilNaduAgriculturalUniversity, Coimbatore-641003.
Dr. I. Muthuvel Professor and Head Department of Fruit Science Horticultural College and Research Institute TamilNaduAgriculturalUniversity, Coimbatore-641003.
Dr. P. Irene Vethamoni Dean (Horticulture) Horticultural College and Research Institute TamilNaduAgriculturalUniversity, Coimbatore-641003.
1. Aonla ................................................................................................... 1
2. Ber......................................................................................................11
3. Custard Apple.................................................................................17
4. Date Palm .........................................................................................23
5. Pom egranate....................................................................................31
6. Fig.......................................................................................................39
7. Jam un ................................................................................................45
8. Lasoda...............................................................................................53
9. Ker......................................................................................................57
10. Phalsa................................................................................................61
11. Karonda............................................................................................65
12. Pilu .....................................................................................................71
13. W ood Apple.....................................................................................73
14. Jharber...............................................................................................75
15. Kum at................................................................................................77
16. Gangana............................................................................................79
17. Khirni.................................................................................................81
18. M ahua...............................................................................................83
19. Chironji.............................................................................................85
20 Mulberry............................................................................................87
21 Cactus Pear.......................................................................................89
22 Marula Nut .......................................................................................91
23 Manila Tamarind.............................................................................93
