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Ppt on Apple Production Technology: Botany, Varieties, Climate, And Cultivation Practices

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Apple (Malus domestica) is a major temperate fruit crop known for its high nutritional value and economic importance. This presentation covers the botany, climate requirements, varieties, propagation, orchard management, pest and disease control, and post-harvest practices of apple cultivation. Key academic concepts include rootstocks, chilling requirement, self-incompatibility, high-density planting, and integrated pest management.
Introduction to Apple Cultivation
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  • Apple is called the ‘King of Temperate Fruits’ and is a symbol of health.
  • Deciduous fruit tree, widely grown in temperate regions worldwide.
  • India’s main apple-producing states: Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttarakhand.
  • Apples have a long storage life and high economic value.
Nutritional Value of Apple
  • Rich in carbohydrates, dietary fiber, vitamins (A, C), and minerals (K, Ca).
  • Contains antioxidants and phytochemicals beneficial for health.
  • Low in fat and cholesterol.
Taxonomy and Botanical Features
  • Botanical name: Malus domestica; Family: Rosaceae; Subfamily: Maloideae.
  • Chromosome number: 2n=34 (x=17).
  • Origin: Southwestern Asia.
  • Fruit type: Pome; Edible part: fleshy thalamus (mesocarp).
  • Major sugar: Sorbitol; Flower color: white to pink.
Area and Production
  • China is the largest apple producer globally.
  • In India, apples account for 55% area and 75% production among temperate fruits.
  • Major Indian states: Himachal Pradesh (83% area), Jammu & Kashmir (45%), Uttarakhand (30%).
  • Also grown in NE states and Nilgiri hills (Tamil Nadu).
Climate and Soil Requirements
  • Altitude: 1500–2700 m above mean sea level.
  • Temperature: 21–24°C (fruit set: 21.1–26.7°C).
  • Chilling requirement: 1000–1500 hours below 7°C in winter.
  • Rainfall: 100–125 cm annually.
  • Soil: Loamy, rich in organic matter, pH 5.5–6.5.
Apple Varieties and Their Features
  • Early: Tydeman’s Early, Benoni, Early Shanburry.
  • Mid-season: Starking Delicious, Red Delicious, McIntosh.
  • Late: Golden Delicious, Yellow Newton, Granny Smith.
  • Spur types: Red Spur, Starkrimson, Oregon Spur.
  • Scab-resistant: Co-Op-12, Florina, Firdous.
  • Low-chilling: Michal, Schlomit.
  • Triploid: Baldwin, Mutsu, Bramley’s Seedling.
Rootstocks in Apple Cultivation
  • Seedling rootstocks: Raised from Malus baccata or commercial cultivars.
  • Clonal rootstocks: Propagated by mound/stool layering.
  • Dwarfing: M9 (high-density planting, weak anchorage).
  • Semi-dwarf: M4, M7, MM106 (aphid-resistant, collar rot susceptible).
  • Semi-vigorous: MM111, MM104 (drought-tolerant, aphid-resistant).
  • Vigorous: Merton 793 (aphid and collar rot resistant).
Spacing and Planting Density
  • Depends on scion-rootstock combination and tree vigor.
  • Standard: 6×6 m (278 trees/ha); Semi-dwarf: 4.5×4.5 m (494 trees/ha).
  • Dwarf: 1.5×1.5 m (4444 trees/ha) for high-density planting.
  • Ultra-high density: >1250 trees/ha.
Propagation Methods
  • Whip and tongue grafting is commonly used.
  • Rootstocks: Malus sylvestris, M. prunifolia, M. sikkimensis, or hybrids.
  • Grafting/budding performed on one-year-old rootstock seedlings.
Planting Practices
  • Pit size: 1m x 1m x 1m; Planting systems: square or hexagonal.
  • Best planting time: January–February.
  • Apply 30–40 kg FYM, 500 g single super phosphate, 50 g Malathion dust per pit.
Pollination and Pollinizers
  • Apple is self-incompatible; cross-pollination is essential.
  • Pollinizer plants should comprise 11–30% of orchard trees.
  • Recommended pollinizers: Royal Delicious, Red Delicious, Golden Delicious.
Fertilizer and Nutrient Management
  • FYM: 10 kg/year age of tree.
  • N:P:K: 70:35:70 g/year age (up to 10th year).
  • Micronutrient sprays: Urea (5%), CaCl2 (0.5%), ZnSO4 (0.5%), MnSO4 (0.4%), H3BO3 (0.1%).
  • Adjust fertilizer in ‘off’ years (lower crop load).
Irrigation and Water Management
  • Critical stage: fruit set (April–August).
  • Annual water requirement: ~114 cm (15–20 irrigations/year).
  • Summer: irrigate every 7–10 days; Winter: every 3–4 weeks.
Weed Management and Mulching
  • Herbicides: Glyphosate (800 ml/ha), Paraquat (0.5%) for post-emergence control.
  • Mulching with hay, black alkathene, dry grass, or oak leaves conserves moisture and suppresses weeds.
Intercropping and Green Manuring
  • Green manure crops (sunflower, bean) improve soil texture and fertility in young orchards.
  • Intercropping is recommended during early years of plantation.
Fruit Drop in Apple
  • Three types: early drop (poor pollination), June drop (moisture stress), pre-harvest drop (economic loss).
  • Pre-harvest drop controlled by NAA spray (10 ppm) one week before expected drop.
Use of Plant Growth Regulators
  • Carbaryl (750–1000 ppm) or NAA (10–20 ppm) at petal fall improves fruit set and color.
  • Growth regulators enhance flowering and fruit quality.
Training and Pruning Systems
  • Modified central leader system for standard trees ensures good light penetration.
  • Spindle bush system for high-density planting in mid hills.
  • Pruning maintains balance between vegetative growth and fruiting spurs.
  • Remove weak/undesirable branches after six years.
Harvesting and Yield
  • Economic bearing starts from 8th year; productive life up to 30–40 years.
  • Harvest before full ripeness; maturity index: color change, starch index 1–2.
  • Average yield: 11–13 t/ha (Himachal Pradesh, J&K); 5–6 t/ha (Uttarakhand).
Harvesting Methods
  • Hand harvesting, ladder harvesting, and mechanical harvesting are used.
  • Handle fruits carefully to avoid bruising and post-harvest losses.
Major Insect Pests and Management
  • Woolly aphid (Eriosoma lanigerum): Sucks sap, weakens trees.
  • Control: Resistant rootstocks (M778, MM14), dimethoate 0.06%, methyl demeton 0.025%, natural predator Aphytis mali.
  • San Jose scale (Quadraspidiotus perniciosus): Causes bark discoloration, fruit damage.
  • Control: Phosalone 0.05%, fenitrothion 0.05%, winter diesel oil emulsion spray.
Major Diseases and Management
  • Apple scab (Venturia inaequalis): Olive to black velvety spots on leaves/fruits.
  • Control: Clean cultivation, Tridemorph 0.1%, Mancozeb 0.25%.
  • Fire blight (Erwinia amylovora): Water-soaked, shriveled, blackened leaves.
  • Control: Remove affected parts, spray Streptomycin 500 ppm.
Physiological Disorders and Correction
  • Water core: Boron deficiency; correct with borax application.
  • Bitter pit: Calcium deficiency; correct with CaCO3 application.
  • Rosette leaf: Zinc deficiency; correct with ZnSO4 application.
Post-Harvest Technology
  • Steps: Harvesting, precooling, grading, storage, packing, transportation, marketing.
  • Storage: 4–8 months at 0–1.1°C, 85–90% RH.
  • Packing: Wooden boxes or corrugated fiberboard cartons (10–20 kg).
Constraints in Apple Cultivation
  • Old orchards with declining productivity.
  • Inadequate pollinizers and outdated varieties.
  • Poor adoption of clonal rootstocks, pruning, and micronutrient management.
  • Low water/fertilizer use efficiency; weather risks (frost, hail).
  • Major disease: Apple scab; post-harvest losses due to poor handling.
Future Thrust and Recommendations
  • Expand cultivar base and adopt low-chilling, disease-resistant varieties.
  • Promote high-density planting, scientific water management, and renewal pruning.
  • Improve post-harvest infrastructure and processing capacity.
  • Encourage tissue culture for rapid multiplication of quality planting material.
Conclusion
  • Apple is vital for India’s horticultural economy, especially in hill regions.
  • Systematic cultivation, improved varieties, and modern management can boost productivity and income.
  • Focus on high-density planting, integrated nutrient and pest management, and post-harvest practices is essential.
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