Pomology is the branch of horticulture, which deals with production, utilisation, marketing and improvement of fruits. First time, Greeks used the term Poma for fruits, which subsequently got transformed to Latin word Pome. The term ‘Pomology’ consists of two Latin words Pome (fruit) and logos (culture). So, pomology is the study or cultivation of fruit crops.
Pomology includes the production and marketing of fruits. Pomology research is mainly focused on the development, cultivation and physiological studies of stone fruit trees. The goals of fruit tree improvement include enhancement of fruit quality. Pomology is a type of science that studies the farming, storage and production of fruits.
Divisions of Pomology:
The science of pomology naturally separates into three divisions:
Practical pomology deals with the practice of growing fruits and is often considered under the title of fruit production. It deals with the act of growing fruits without concerning itself with the names, history, characters, classification or disposal of the fruits themselves.
Commercial pomology deals with the marketing and disposition of fruits. Phases of commercial pomology are preparation of fruits for market, storage and transportation of fruits and such other operations as are necessary for the delivery of fruits to the consumer.
Systematic pomology has among its fundamental objectives the learning of kinds of fruit plants important to horticulture and their names of their distinctions and their affinities, their distribution and their habitat and their classification.
It is now recognised that a competent systematic work in pomology is a product of a knowledge of the plant as it grows, a study of enough representative specimens. The information so accumulated from such studies is fundamental to acquiring a scientific knowledge of the inventory of fruit plants.
Therefore, systematic pomology deals then with the knowledge of the fruits themselves and the trees, bushes or vines upon which they grow. It also treats of the history of fruits, their structure and their relationship not only to each other but as well to other members of the plant world.
Fruits:
Fruit is a part of a flowering plant that derives from specific tissues of the flower, one or more ovaries and in some cases accessory tissues.
Fruits and vegetables are known as protective foods because they are necessary to maintenance of human health. Fruits are the suitable diets for people of all age groups. Fruits provide kinetic energy to the body.
Nutritive value of fruits are given in various ways:
(i) Carbohydrates – Most of the fruits are good source of carbohydrate.
Some carbohydrate richest fruits are –
Raisin > Apricot > Datepalm (pind) > Karonda > Banana > Basel > Custard apple
(ii) Protein – Most of the fruits are good source of proteins. It is the very important to build of body.
Some protein richest fruits are –
Cashewnut (21.20%) > Walnut (15.60%) and Almond (20.80%).
(iii) Fat – Several fruits are rich source of fat. These are –
Walnut (64.50%) > Almond (58.90%) > Cashewnut (46.9%) >Avocado (22.80%).
(iv) Minerals – Several minerals play vital role in human health. Most of the fruits are good source of minerals.
(v) Vitamins – Several vitamins required for human health. Due to the lack of vitamins, different diseases occurs.
a. Vitamin-A – The deficiency of this vitamin results in night blindness, eruption of skin, etc. Vitamin-A rich fruits are –
Ripe mango > Papaya > Persimon
b. Vitamin-B1 – It is also known as thiamine and rich fruits.
c. Vitamin-B2 – It is also known as riboflavin and richest fruit are –
Bael > Papaya > Cashewnut > Litchi
d. Vitamin-C – It is also known as ascorbic acid and due to deficiency of this vitamin scurvy disease occur.
Barbados cherry > amla (Aonla) (600 mg/100gm) > Guava (299 mg/100 g) > Lime.
Total production of horticultural crops has been estimated at 240 million MT from an area of 21.8 million hec.
Total production of fruit crops has been estimated at 74.87 million MT from an area of 6.38 million hec with the productivity of 11.7 MT/hec.
India is second largest producer of fruits after China. India ranks first in the production of mango, banana, limes, lemon.
Banana ranks first in production followed by mango (among fruits) in India.
Mango ranks first in area under fruits crops in India. Even highest productivity has banana followed by papaya, grape.
Fruits are classified into following features:
1. Based on Climatic Requirement:
Some common fruits are classified on their climatic requirement-
(i) Tropical Fruits – The fruits which require hot and humid climate in summer and mild winter, e.g., mango, banana, pineapple, sapota, jackfruit, cashewnut, mangosteen, etc.
(ii) Sub-tropical Fruits – The fruits which require hot and comparatively dry summer and comparatively less cold winter, e.g., fig, citrus, litchi, phalsa, datepalm, loquat, ber, guava, pomegranate, bael, grape, avocado, etc.
(iii) Temperate Fruits – The class of fruits grown in cold regions, where temperature falls below freezing point in winter. The trees shed their leaves in winter and go under dormancy. These are winter hardy fruits, e.g., apple, peach, pear, plum, almond, walnut, apricot, peanut, hazelnut, cherry, strawberry, etc.
2. Based on Botanical Relationship:
Some common fruits with their botanical name, common name and respective family are tabulated as follows:
3. Based on Nature of Growth:
(i) Herbaceous – Banana, pineapple.
(ii) Shrub like Growth – Phalsa, pomegranate, karonda, etc.
(iii) Woody Structure – Ber, sapota, mango, guava, jamun, peach, apple, pear, etc.
(i) Drupe or Stone – Mango, almond, ber, plum, apricot, jamun, coconut, peaches.
(ii) Berry Type – Banana, papaya, date, sapota, grape, guava.
(iii) Pome Type – Pear, apple, loquat.
(iv) Hesperidium – Oranges (citrus fruit).
(v) Nut Type – Litchi, cashewnut, rambutan.
(vi) Capsule – Amla, carambola.
(vii) Etario of Berry – Rasberry, custard apple.
(viii) Sorosis – Pineapple, jackfruit, mulberry.
(ix) Balausta – Pomegranate.
5. Based on Continuation of Growth:
(i) Evergreen – Mango, citrus, litchi, sapota.
(ii) Deciduous – Apple, pear, peach, plum, apricot, etc.
6. Based on Ripening Behaviour:
(i) Climatric – Litchi, lemon, lime, orange, grape pomegranate, pineapple, etc.
(ii) Non-climatric Fruits – Fruits showing a gradual decline in respiratory rate with ripening.
7. Based on Parts Used:
Irrigation Systems of Fruit Crops:
The irrigation system has to be properly devised so that water requirements of the trees are met at the minimum expenditure without any wastage of water.
Different systems of irrigation commonly adopted are as follows:
(i) Flood System:
In this system entire area is irrigated through one head. In this system the, wastage of water is more and this also leads to excessive weed growth. This system is useful, where intercrops or green manuring crops are grown in an orchard.
(ii) Furrow Method:
This system is suitable for slopy land irrigation. In this system, the water moves slowly in furrows in the area between tree rows. The system of irrigation is suitable for old orchard.
(iii) Basin System:
In this method of irrigation, a small circular basin is provided around the tree trunk. These basins are linked directly with one another through straight channel. This system is suitable for young fruit plants.
(iv) Modified Basin System:
This system is an improvement over the basin system. In this system main channel runs in between the tree lines and the basins are linked with it independently through small sub channels.
In this system intercropping is not possible. This system is used for irrigation of young fruit trees.
(v) Sprinkler System:
This system is used, where water supply is not adequate. The water is pumped with pressure through the sprinklers attached to pipes and these sprinklers are adjusted in such a manner to overlap upto 1/4 area covered by the other sprinklers. This system is very costly and is suitable for the full grown orchard.
(vi) Drip System:
The water is supplied with pressure after filtering, it through the pipe with attached hoses designed to supply water in drops. These small hoses are placed around the tree in a circular pattern and the percolating water moves down and sideways wetting the root zone.
This system of irrigation is very costly and most useful in areas with scanty rainfall. The advantage of application of liquid fertiliser to the root system is available.
Physiological Disorder of Fruit Crops:
a. Fruit cracking in apple and pomegranate.
b. Crown choking in coconut.
c. Water core, russeting and internal cork in apple.
d. Fruit necrosis in amla.
e. Hen and chicken in grape.
f. Internal necrosis in mango.
a. Bitter pit of apple.
b. Calyx end rot in persimmon
a. Exanthema /ammoniation or die back in citrus.
b. Rough bark and cracking in apple.
a. Leaf mottling in citrus leaf.
b. Little leaf in mango, litchi and cashew.
c. Rosette in apple and another stone fruit.
d. Leaf bronsing in litchi.
e. Die back of twig in avocado.
Interveinal chlorosis in apple and in citrus.
Yellow spot of citrus.
Chlorosis is the most characteristic K deficiency in different fruits.
Stunted growth in banana plants and have a sturdy appearance due to shortening of internodes.