General Fruit Science

1. Pomology is the branch of horticulture dealing with fruit crops.
2. Fruits are rich sources of vitamins, minerals, and fiber.
3. Mango is known as the King of Fruits.
4. Banana is called the Apple of Paradise.
5. Grape is called the Queen of Fruits.
6. Guava is rich in Vitamin C.
7. Papaya contains Papain enzyme used in the food industry.
8. The color of fruits is due to pigments like carotene and anthocyanin.
9. Climacteric fruits show a rise in respiration after harvest (e.g., banana, mango).
10. Non-climacteric fruits do not show a rise in respiration (e.g., grapes, orange).

Classification & Botanical Names

1. Mango – Mangifera indica (Family: Anacardiaceae).
2. Banana – Musa paradisiaca (Family: Musaceae).
3. Guava – Psidium guajava (Family: Myrtaceae).
4. Papaya – Carica papaya (Family: Caricaceae).
5. Citrus – Citrus spp. (Family: Rutaceae).
6. Grape – Vitis vinifera (Family: Vitaceae).
7. Apple – Malus domestica (Family: Rosaceae).
8. Sapota – Manilkara zapota (Family: Sapotaceae).
9. Pomegranate – Punica granatum (Family: Lythraceae).
10. Aonla – Emblica officinalis (Family: Euphorbiaceae).

Climatic Requirements

1. Mango prefers tropical and subtropical climate.
2. Apple requires temperate climate with chilling hours (800–1200 hrs).
3. Banana thrives in warm and humid climate.
4. Grapes need sub-tropical climate with dry weather during ripening.
5. Citrus prefers dry, sub-tropical to tropical climate.
6. Guava can grow under wide climatic conditions.
7. Papaya is highly sensitive to frost.
8. Litchi requires high humidity and mild winter.
9. Pineapple prefers humid tropical climate.
10. Pomegranate is suitable for semi-arid and arid climates.

Propagation Methods

1. Mango – propagated by veneer grafting.
2. Guava – propagated by air layering or stooling.
3. Banana – propagated by suckers or tissue culture.
4. Citrus – propagated by T-budding.
5. Grape – propagated by hardwood cuttings.
6. Papaya – propagated by seed.
7. Aonla – propagated by patch budding.
8. Litchi – propagated by air layering (gootee).
9. Pineapple – propagated by suckers and slips.
10. Sapota – propagated by softwood grafting.

Flowering & Pollination

1. Mango – polygamous flowers.
2. Banana – monoecious with unisexual flowers.
3. Papaya – dioecious plant (male and female separate).
4. Guava – self-pollinated crop.
5. Citrus – cross-pollinated crop.
6. Grapes – hermaphrodite flowers.
7. Apple – cross-pollinated by bees.
8. Pomegranate – self and cross-pollinated.
9. Litchi – cross-pollinated by insects.
10. Pollinators in most fruit crops: bees and wind.

Nutritional Facts

1. Vitamin A – abundant in mango, papaya, apricot.
2. Vitamin C – highest in Aonla.
3. Iron – rich in dates.
4. Calcium – rich in fig and custard apple.
5. Pectin – abundant in guava, apple, citrus.
6. Antioxidants are highest in berries and pomegranate.
7. Lycopene pigment – found in papaya and watermelon.
8. Anthocyanin pigment – found in jamun, plum, berries.
9. TSS (Total Soluble Solids) is measured in °Brix.
10. Acidity in fruits is measured by titration using NaOH.

Important States & Production

1. Highest fruit-producing state – Maharashtra.
2. Major banana states – Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Gujarat.
3. Major mango states – Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar.
4. Major citrus states – Maharashtra, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh.
5. Major papaya states – Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra.
6. Major apple states – Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh.
7. Major pomegranate states – Maharashtra, Karnataka.
8. Major guava states – Uttar Pradesh, Bihar.
9. Major litchi state – Bihar.
10. Major grape state – Maharashtra (Nashik).

Miscellaneous

1. National Fruit of India – Mango.
2. Banana contains high potassium.
3. Apple contains pectin, good for cholesterol control.
4. Papaya seeds have anthelmintic properties.
5. Aonla is used in Chyawanprash and Ayurvedic tonics.
6. Mango malformation is caused by Fusarium moniliforme.
7. Guava wilt is caused by Fusarium oxysporum.
8. Banana ripening hormone – Ethylene.
9. Shelf life of banana increases with calcium carbide-free ripening.
10. Pomegranate cracking occurs due to irregular watering.

Harvest & Post-Harvest

1. Mango is harvested at mature green stage.
2. Banana is harvested at 3/4 maturity.
3. Citrus fruits are harvested when color turns bright.
4. Grapes are harvested based on TSS:acid ratio.
5. Apple is harvested when starch turns to sugar.
6. Post-harvest losses in fruits – around 25–30% in India.
7. Controlled atmosphere storage increases shelf life of apples and grapes.
8. Mangoes are stored at 13°C for long life.
9. Banana is stored at 14°C and 85–90% RH.
10. Guava has a short shelf life of 3–5 days.