Description

ABOUT THE BOOK

Over the past few years there has been an increase in the variety of tropical fruits available for consumption, due to improved breeding, postharvest management and distribution systems. The production and world trade of fresh tropical fruits is expected to expand further, aided by consumer demand for healthy diets and for trying new foods. This book covers major tropical fruits such as avocado, banana, litchi, mango, papaya, and pineapple. The chapters describe general aspects of the tropical climate and its soils, fruit production techniques, tree management, and postharvest handling. the book highlights soil solarisation, nursery management, establishment of orchard, canopy management, intercropping in orchard,  integrated nutrient management, integrated pest and disease management, weed management, irrigation management, post harvest handling, plant genetic resources besides breeding strategies. The ancient and modern propagation and cultural practices are described to show the regional differences that environmental and biological pressures exert on fruit production and fruit quality. Tropical Fruits is essential reading for students and teachers of horticulture and tropical agriculture, as well as for horticultural industry personnel.

CONTENTS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dr. M.B. SONTAKKE born on 05-08-1946, in a reputable farmers family of Parbhani district, has passed all the examinations in first division right from Matriculation to Ph.D in Horticulture. He stood first class first in “Sanskrit” optional subject in H.S.C in the Board exam(1965) and also first class first in oreder of merit in B.Sc (Agri.)exam in Marathwada University, Aurangabad in 1969.He took Ph.D. degree in Horticulture(1981) from UAS, Banglore with 3.88/4.00 CGPA and was first in merit order. He has completed Ph.D. research at Indias No. 1 Institute in Horticulture i.e IIHR, Hessaraghatta, Bangalore. He knows languages like Emglish, Marathi, Hindi, Sanskrit, German, and Kannada.

He was recipient of scholarships like ICAR,(4 years of B.Sc (Agri.),Govt. of India National merit scholarship (2 years of M.Sc. (Agri.) and Senior ICAR Fellowship (Ph.D). He worked for 33 years w.e.f 1971 to 2004 in Agricultural University in different capacities and posts like SRA, Assistant Professor, Professor, Senior Research Officer (Hort.) and Head, University Department of Horticulture, MAU, Parbhani and retired in August 2004. He worked in Professor cadre for 28 years, out of 33 years of service from 1976 to 2004. He worked as Principal at College of Horticulture, Phaltan (Satara) under MPKV, Rahuri, after retirement from Parbhani.

He is life Member of Indian Society of Vegetable Science, New Delhi, Horticultural Society of Gujarat (Navsari) and Horticultural Society of Karnataka (Arabhavi).

Special contribution in evolving two varieties is made and a chilli variety “Parbhani Tejas” and a mango variety “Parbhan Bhushan” is bred and released. He has guided 25 M.Sc and Ph.D students in Horticulture as Chairman of Advisory Committee. He has published 40 research articles/notes, 15 review/technical articles and 100 extension publications including popular articles/TV and radio talks. He has at his credits 10 Marathi publications in the form of bulletins, folders, booklets etc on horticultural crops. He has edited a book entitled “Production and Management of Rainfed Fruit Crops” in 2006 from Agrotech Publishing Academy, Udaipur (Rajasthan). He is author of two chapters on Onion and Garlic in book “Vegetable Crops in India”, edited by T.K. Bose and M.G. Som, Naya Prokash, Kolkotta.