Introduction to fruit science

1. Introduction to Fruit
Science
Week -1
Lecture 1-3 (1)

2. Garden plants includes fruits, vegetables and
ornamentals.
Horticulture
Latin word: Hortus----- Garden
Colere ------ Cultivation
Janick (1986)
“Branch of agriculture which deals
with intensive cultivation of plants used for
food, medicinal purposes or for aesthetic
gratification”

3. Pomology
Greek word: Poma----- Fruit
Latin words: Pome ------ Fruit
Latin word: Logos ------ Culture
“Branch of Horticulture which deals with various
aspects of fruit growing; including, nursery rasing,
growing of fruit plant, providing various
intercultural practices, harvesting, ripening,
storage, marketing”

4. History of Pomology
Science of pomology was well known to ancient
civilizations
The Sumerians The Chinese
The Indians The Egyptians
The Greeks The Romans
The Latin The Inkas
Date palm is the most oldest fruit of the world

5. History of Pomology
 Sumerians religious literature mentioned about
dates about 700 years before Chriest
 Egyptians mentioned about dates from third
millennium before the chriest
 Grecian and Roman literature mentioned about
date, pomegranate, fig, apple, and olive from the
second millennium before the Chriest
 The Aryans and Dravidians knew about banana,
mango, jack fruit coconut palm during 7000-3000
B.C.

6. History of Pomology
 Chinese mentioned about Litchi, Citrus, and
Persimmon in their old books
 Inkas of central America introduced pineapple,
guava, avocado
 Sailors and European invaders introduced many
fruits to the rest of world and exchange the plant
material
 Oldest literature was available about Litchi from
China (1056)

7. Cultivated areas under important fruit crops in
Pakistan (1999-08)
0
50
100
150
200
250
1999-00 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08
Years
Area
(000
ha)
Citrus Mango Dates
Guava Apple Banana

8. Production of important fruit crops in
Pakistan (1999-08)
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
1999-
00
2000-
01
2001-
02
2002-
03
2003-
04
2004-
05
2005-
06
2006-
07
2007-
08
Years
Production
(000
Tonnes)
Citrus Mango Dates
Guava Apple Banana

9. Average yield of important fruit crops in
Pakistan (1999-08)
20
50
80
110
140
1999-00 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05
Years
Yield
(000
Tonnes/ha)
Citrus Mango Dates
Guava Apple Banana

10. Importance of Fruits
 Social
 Art and culture
 Religious
 General utility
 Nutritive value
 Economic importance
 Trade and industrial importance
 Ecological Balance