Systematics of Fruit Crops

The present work provides foundational knowledge to students who are newly studying systematic pomology, addressing: 1. Introduction, which includes three subheadings on academic elements of taxonomy related to theories, hypotheses, and basic principles that are prerequisites for a minimum working knowledge of systematic pomology. 2. Detailed information on the general origin and distribution, as well as flower and fruit structure, to enable students to tackle problems related to varietal descriptions and testing. 3. The significance of systematic pomology in varietal improvement, new variety sources, and methods of synthesis is also discussed. The sections 1-4 provide a systematic enumeration of 58 fruits, categorized into tropical and subtropical, small fruits, nut fruits, and temperate fruits. Each crop includes the historical background, origin, distribution, and uses, as well as pomological traits of the fruit, important species and cultivars, and line drawings of flower and fruit structures. The list of cultivars is limited to popular cultivars, as the cultivation status is continuously evolving. The glossary and annexures prioritize clarity and brevity, with the annexures offering detailed information on fruit crops, fruit types, genera, species, and tribes, along with their numbers and status in fruit crop families. The botanical terms chart provides a morphological description of leaf, floral structure, and form, inflorescence, root, and rootstock to aid readers understanding.