Botanical classification of Horticultural Crops

The classification of horticultural crops plays a vital role in understanding their growth patterns, cultivation requirements, climatic preferences, and uses. This classification can be done in various ways depending on different characteristics. Here’s a detailed breakdown:

1. Classification Based on Growth Habit and Physiological Characteristics:

• Herbs: These plants are non-woody, and they often have soft, green stems. Examples include Ageratum and lawn grasses.
• Shrubs: These are woody plants with multiple stems arising from the base. Examples include Nerium (Oleander) and Hibiscus.
• Trees: These are woody plants with a single main stem or trunk. Examples include Mango, Tamarind, and Rain Tree.
• Climbers: These plants have flexible stems and require support to grow upward. Example: Bougainvillea.
• Creepers: These plants grow along the ground or spread horizontally. Example: Bignonia.

2. Classification Based on Life Span of Plants:

I) Annuals:

• Annual plants complete their life cycle from germination to seed formation within one growing season, typically lasting 3-6 months.
• They are categorized based on the season:
  • Rainy Season Annuals: Thrive in the rainy season, sown in April-May. Examples: Marigold, Aster, Salvia, Zinnia.
  • Winter or Cold Season Annuals: Grow and bloom best during winter. Examples: Phlox, Antirrhinum.
  • Hot Weather or Summer Season Annuals: Best sown in January-February and bloom in April-May. Examples: Sunflower, Gaillardia, Zinnia.

II) Biennials: These plants require two growing seasons to complete their life cycle. In the first season, they grow vegetatively, and in the second season, they flower and fruit. Examples: Gladiolus, Dahlia.

III) Perennials:

• Perennials live for more than two years. They are further classified as:
  • Herbaceous Perennials: These plants have soft stems and may die back after a growing season, but the roots remain alive to regrow. They can be:
    • Trees (e.g., Mango, Guava)
    • Shrubs (e.g., Hibiscus, Rose)
    • Vines (e.g., Grape vines, Passion fruit)
  • Woody Perennials: Trees and shrubs fall into this category due to their longevity and woody structures.

3. Classification Based on Leaf Shedding:

• Deciduous Plants: Shed their leaves for part of the year, usually during winter. Examples: Fig, Guava, Apple, Pomegranate.
• Evergreen Plants: Retain their leaves throughout the year. Examples: Coconut, Banana, Mango, Avocado.

4. Classification Based on Climatic Requirements:

• Temperate Crops: These plants thrive in colder regions and require a temperate climate, often going dormant in winter. Examples: Apple, Plum, Almond.
• Tropical Crops: Require warm temperatures (about 100°F), sunshine, and high humidity. These plants cannot tolerate frost. Examples: Papaya, Banana, Pineapple.
• Sub-Tropical Crops: These plants tolerate mild winters and need warmth and humidity. Examples: Orange, Mango, Litchi, Cashew nut.

5. Classification of Horticultural Crops Based on Season:

Horticultural crops can be classified based on the season in which they grow best. In India, we generally have three main seasons:

• Summer Season (March to May):
  • In this hot season, only a few crops thrive in the warm months.
  • Common summer vegetables include leafy vegetables, cluster beans, brinjal, cucumber, and gourds.
  • Popular summer flowers include Sunflower, Cockscomb, Rose, and Zinnia.
  • Some crops like tomato, brinjal, and beans grow year-round but yield best during the optimal season.

• Rainy Season (June to October):
  • Crops grown during the rainy season are called Kharif crops. These crops are sown during the onset of the monsoon (May-June) and require abundant rainfall for optimal growth.
  • Common Kharif vegetables include Snake gourd, Lady’s finger, Chilies, and Beans.
  • The timing of sowing is critical for rainfed crops, as any delay can significantly reduce yields.

• Winter Season (November to February):
  • This season is ideal for Rabi crops, which are sown in October or November.
  • Winter vegetables include crops like Tomato, Cabbage, Cauliflower, and Carrot.
  • Winter flowers such as Marigold, Chrysanthemum, and Pansy thrive in cooler conditions.

6. Classification of Horticultural Crops Based on Use:

Horticultural plants can also be classified according to their intended use. Here are various categories based on their function or aesthetic purpose:

1. Flowering Trees: These trees are grown for their ornamental flowers. Examples include Gulmohar, Neelmobor, and Cassia.
2. Roadside Trees: These trees are planted along roadsides for shade, beautification, and air purification. Examples include Neem, Banyan tree, and Rain tree.
3. Shade-Giving Trees: These trees provide shade and are suitable for parks and gardens. Examples include Rain tree and Mahogany.
4. Flowering Shrubs: These shrubs are cultivated for their attractive flowers. Examples include Nerium, Hibiscus, and Tagar.
5. Foliage Shrubs: These shrubs are cultivated primarily for their attractive leaves. Examples include Thuja and Casuarina.
6. Climbers and Creepers: These plants grow along supports or spread along the ground. Examples include Petrea, Bignonia, and Ipomea.
7. Bulbous Plants: These plants grow from bulbs and are often used for ornamental purposes. Examples include Canna, Caladium, and Tuberose.
8. Hedge and Edges: These plants are used for creating hedges or borders in gardens. Examples include Duranta, Clerodendron, and Ageratum.
9. Annuals: These plants complete their life cycle in one year. Examples include Petunia and Alyssum.
10. Perennials: These plants live for several years and can bloom season after season. Examples include Chrysanthemum and Rose.

Vegetables:

a) Vegetables Grown for Aerial Portion:

1. Cole Crops: Cabbage, Cauliflower.
2. Legume Crops: Peas, Beans.
3. Solanaceous Crops: Tomato, Brinjal.
4. Cucurbits: Cucumber, Red pumpkin.
5. Leafy Vegetables: Spinach, Methi.
6. Salad Vegetables: Lettuce, Broccoli.
7. Corn Vegetables: Sweet corn, Popcorn.

b) Vegetables Grown for Underground Portion:

1. Root Crops: Beet, Carrot.
2. Tuber Crops: Yam, Potato.
3. Bulb Crops: Onion, Garlic.

Fruits:

a) Temperate (Deciduous) Fruits:

1. Small Fruits: Grape, Strawberry.
2. Tree Fruits: Apple, Pear, Cherry.
3. Nuts: Peach, Walnut.

b) Tropical and Sub-Tropical Fruits:

1. Herbaceous Perennials: Pineapple, Banana.
2. Tree Fruits: Mango, Papaya.
3. Nuts: Cashew nut, Areca nut.

Here is a brief summary of the categories of horticultural plants based on their use:

• Flowering Trees: Trees grown for their decorative flowers. Examples: Gulmohar, Neelmobor, Cassia.
• Roadside Trees: Trees planted along roads for shade and aesthetic value. Examples: Neem, Banyan, Rain tree.
• Shade-Giving Trees: Trees providing shade, useful in parks and gardens. Examples: Rain tree, Mahogany.
• Flowering Shrubs: Shrubs cultivated for their vibrant flowers. Examples: Nerium, Hibiscus, Tagar.
• Foliage Shrubs: Shrubs valued for their attractive leaves. Examples: Thuja, Casuarina.
• Climbers and Creepers: Plants that climb or spread along the ground. Examples: Petrea, Bignonia, Ipomea.
• Bulbous Plants: Plants that grow from bulbs, often used for ornamental purposes. Examples: Canna, Caladium, Tuberose.
• Hedge and Edges: Plants used to form borders or hedges. Examples: Duranta, Clerodendron, Ageratum.
• Annuals: Plants that complete their life cycle in one year. Examples: Petunia, Ageratum.
• Perennials: Plants that live for several years, often flowering seasonally. Examples: Chrysanthemum, Roses.

Classification of Fruits

Fruit classification helps in the study of their growth, hybridization, compatibility, adaptability to soil and climate, and their economic production. It is essential for pomologists to categorize fruits for better understanding and management.

Pomology

Pomology is a sub-discipline of horticulture that deals with the study of fruits, including their growth, propagation, and management. It combines two Latin words:

• Pome: Meaning “fruit”
• Logos: Meaning “study” In Greek, “Poma” also means “fruit.”

Types of Pomology:

1. Basic Pomology: Focuses on the basic aspects of fruit production such as training, water management, and the use of plant growth regulators (PGRs).
2. Commercial Pomology: Concerned with the large-scale, commercial production of fruits.
3. Systematic Pomology: Deals with the classification and nomenclature of fruits, including the taxonomic levels such as kingdom, order, class, genus, and species.

Classification of Fruits Based on Climate Adaptability:

Tropical Fruits:

• Characteristics: Evergreen plants, sensitive to cold, thrive in warm climates with moderate fluctuations in temperature and light.
• Examples: Mango, Banana, Papaya, Sapota.

Sub-tropical Fruits:

• Characteristics: Grown in regions with climatic conditions between temperate and tropical. These fruits may be deciduous or evergreen and can withstand lower temperatures, but not frost. Some may require chilling for flower bud differentiation.
• Examples: Grapes, Citrus, Durian, Jackfruit.

Classification Based on Bearing Habit:

Terminal Buds with Inflorescence Without Leaves: Fruit buds grow at the end of the shoot, giving rise to flowers without leaves. Examples: Mango, Cherry.

Terminal Buds with Leafy Shoots Leading to Flower Clusters: Fruit buds grow terminally, producing shoots that eventually end in clusters of flowers. Examples: Apple.

Terminal Buds with Leafy Shoots and Flowers: Fruit buds grow terminally, leading to leafy shoots, followed by flowers or flower clusters. Examples: Guava.

Lateral Buds with Inflorescence: Fruit buds grow laterally (on the sides of the stem) and produce flowers or flower clusters with or without leaves. Examples: Citrus.

Lateral Buds with Leafy Shoots Ending in Flower Clusters: Lateral buds produce leafy shoots that terminate in clusters of flowers. Examples: Grapes, Cashew nut.

Lateral Buds with Leafy Shoots and Flowers in Leaf Axils: Fruit buds grow laterally in the axils of leaves, producing leafy shoots with flowers or flower clusters. Example: Fig.

Fruit Morphology

1) Simple Fruits: Berry: Fruits that are fleshy throughout and contain one or more seeds. Examples: Banana, Papaya, Grape, Sapota, Avocado

2) Modified Berries:

• i. Balusta: Pomegranate
• ii. Amphisarca: Woodapple, Bael
• iii. Pepo: Watermelon
• iv. Pome: Apple, Pear, Loquat
• v. Drupe (Stone): Mango, Plum
• vi. Hesperidium: Citrus
• vii. Nut: Cashew, Litchi, Walnut, Rambutan
• viii. Capsule: Amla, Carambola

3) Aggregate Fruits: Etario of Berries: Fruits that develop from multiple ovaries of a single flower. Examples: Custard Apple, Raspberry

4) Multiple Fruits:

• Syconus: Fig
• Sorosis: Jackfruit, Pineapple, Mulberry

Based on Rate of Respiration:

1) Climacteric Fruits (Fruits that show a marked increase in respiration rate and ethylene production during ripening): Examples: Mango, Banana, Sapota, Guava, Papaya

2) Non-Climacteric Fruits (Fruits that do not show a significant increase in respiration or ethylene production during ripening): Examples: Citrus, Grape, Pomegranate, Pineapple, Litchi, Ber, Jamun, Cashew, Cucumber, Cherry, Strawberry

Based on Photoperiodic Responses:

1) Long Day Plants (Require longer daylight periods for flowering): Examples: Passion Fruit, Banana, Apple

2) Short Day Plants (Require shorter daylight periods for flowering): Examples: Strawberry, Pineapple, Coffee

3) Day Neutral Plants (Flowering is not affected by day length): Examples: Papaya, Guava

Based on Relative Salt Tolerance:

1) Highly Tolerant (Able to grow well in saline conditions): Examples: Date Palm, Ber, Amla, Guava, Coconut, Khirni

2) Medium Tolerant: Examples: Pomegranate, Cashew, Fig, Jamun, Phalsa

3) Highly Sensitive (Struggle in saline conditions): Examples: Mango, Apple, Citrus, Pear, Strawberry

Based on Relative Acid Tolerance:

1) Highly Tolerant: Examples: Strawberry, Raspberry, Fig, Bael, Plum

2) Medium Tolerant: Examples: Pineapple, Avocado, Litchi

Based on Longevity:

1) Very Long Longevity (>100 years): Examples: Date Palm, Coconut, Arecanut

2) Long Longevity (50-100 years): Examples: Mango, Tamarind

3) Medium Longevity (10-50 years): Examples: Litchi, Guava, Pomegranate

4) Short Longevity: Examples: Pineapple, Banana

Based on Consumer Preference or Weight of Fruits:

1) Very Light (50-100 gm): Examples: Grape, Ber, Banana

2) Light (100-150 gm): Examples: Sapota, Pomegranate

3) Light Medium (150-300 gm): Examples: Mango

4) Medium (300-350 gm): Examples: Avocado

5) Medium to Heavy (800-1000 gm): Examples: Mango

6) Heavy (1-5 kg): Examples: Breadfruit, Pineapple

7) Very Heavy (>5 kg): Examples: Jackfruit