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🍍Tropical & Subtropical Fruits

Guava, litchi, pineapple, sapota, pomegranate, jackfruit and other tropical fruits for exams

Guava (Amrood)

  • Botanical Name: Psidium guajava
  • Family: Myrtaceae
  • Origin: Tropical America / Mexico
  • Also called Apple of the Tropics or Poor Man’s Apple
  • Richest source of Vitamin C among all fruits (200–300 mg/100g)
  • Rich source of pectin — excellent for jelly and jam making
  • Leading state: Uttar Pradesh (Allahabad/Prayagraj famous for best quality)
  • Propagation: Air layering (Gootee) and Stool layering (most common & cheapest)
  • Dwarfing rootstock: Aneuploid-82; P. friedrichsthalianum (Chinese guava) — resistant to wilt & nematodes
  • Meadow orcharding developed in guava (2.0 m × 1.0 m spacing)
  • Bears fruit 3 times a year in South India (Ambe, Mrig, Hasta bahar)
  • Winter crop is best quality — escapes fruit fly attack

IMPORTANT

Crop Regulation: Rainy season crop is removed by spraying urea 10% (Allahabad Safeda) or 20% (Lucknow-49) at peak flowering to divert energy to superior winter crop.

Important Varieties

VarietyKey Feature
Allahabad SafedaBenchmark quality, white flesh, high Vitamin C
Lucknow-49 (Sardar)Most widely cultivated, chance seedling from Allahabad Safeda
LalitPink flesh, 24% higher yield, suitable for jelly
Arka MridulaSeedling selection from Allahabad Safeda, soft-seeded
Behat CoconutSeedless guava
Allahabad SurkhaUniform pink fruit, deep pink flesh
ChittidarRed dots on skin
HafsiRed fleshed

Major Disease & Pest

  • Guava Wilt: Caused by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. psidii — most destructive disease, common in alkaline soils
  • Guava Fruit Fly: Bactrocera dorsalis — most serious pest, attacks rainy season crop

TIP

Guava can tolerate salinity but is susceptible to soil acidity. Wilt is most common in alkali soils.


Litchi

  • Botanical Name: Litchi chinensis
  • Family: Sapindaceae
  • Origin: Southern China
  • Also called Queen of Fruits
  • Bihar is the largest producer (~75% of India’s production), followed by Uttarakhand
  • Muzaffarpur (Bihar) is the litchi capital of India
  • Edible part: Fleshy aril (juicy covering of seed)
  • Propagation: Air layering (Gootee) — most common and successful method
  • Fruit maturity index: Specific gravity of 1.05
  • Litchi is a non-climacteric fruit
  • Requires subtropical climate with distinct cool winter (for flower induction) and hot humid summer

IMPORTANT

Fruit cracking is a major problem in litchi — caused by moisture stress, hot dry winds, and boron deficiency. Spray borax 0.4% and maintain regular irrigation to reduce cracking.

Important Varieties

VarietyKey Feature
ShahiMost popular commercial variety, excellent quality
ChinaLarge fruit, late maturing
BombaiLarge fruit, bold seed
Rose ScentedDistinct rose aroma
CalcuttiaEarly maturing
PurbiGood quality, mid-season
DehradunPopular in Uttarakhand

NOTE

Litchi is highly perishable — browning of pericarp occurs within 48–72 hours after harvest. SO₂ fumigation or acid dip treatment helps maintain red colour.


Pineapple

  • Botanical Name: Ananas comosus
  • Family: Bromeliaceae
  • Origin: Brazil (South America)
  • Only monocotyledonous commercial fruit crop
  • Fruit type: Sorosis (composite/multiple fruit formed from fusion of flowers on a spike)
  • Edible part: Fleshy perianth, bract, and axis
  • Leading states: Meghalaya, Assam, Kerala, Manipur
  • Propagation: Suckers (best), Slips, and Crowns
  • Contains enzyme Bromelin — a protein-digesting enzyme
  • Ethrel (Ethephon) 100 ppm spray induces uniform flowering
  • Pineapple is a CAM plant (Crassulacean Acid Metabolism)

Important Varieties

VarietyKey Feature
Kew (Giant Kew)Most popular, suitable for canning, large fruit
QueenBest for table purpose, golden yellow, aromatic
MauritiusExcellent flavour, reddish-orange skin

Major Disease & Pest

  • Heart Rot: Caused by Phytophthora parasitica — central whorl of leaves turns brown and pulls out easily
  • Mealy Bug: Transmits pineapple wilt virus

TIP

Pineapple is a shade-loving plant. Intercropping with coconut, arecanut, or rubber is highly beneficial. It grows best in acidic soils (pH 5.0–6.0).


Sapota / Chiku

  • Botanical Name: Manilkara zapota (syn. Achras zapota)
  • Family: Sapotaceae
  • Origin: Mexico and Central America
  • Leading states: Karnataka, Gujarat, Maharashtra
  • Source of Chicle — the natural chewing gum base obtained from latex
  • Edible part: Pericarp (entire fleshy portion)
  • Propagation: Inarching (most common) and Softwood grafting
  • Sapota is an evergreen tree, bears fruit throughout the year
  • Rootstock: Khirni (Manilkara hexandra)

Important Varieties

VarietyKey Feature
KalipattiMost popular, oval fruit, good quality
Cricket BallRound like cricket ball, large, popular in Gujarat
PKM-1High yielding, developed by TNAU
PilipattiOblong fruit
DSH-2Hybrid
CO-1, CO-2TNAU releases

NOTE

Sapota fruit is harvested when the skin turns potato brown and scratching reveals yellowish-green colour underneath, with milky latex becoming non-sticky.


Pomegranate (Anar)

  • Botanical Name: Punica granatum
  • Family: Punicaceae (some classify under Lythraceae)
  • Origin: Iran (Persia)
  • Fruit type: Balausta — a specialized berry with leathery rind
  • Edible part: Juicy testa (Aril) — the fleshy seed coat
  • Leading states: Maharashtra (largest), Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh
  • India is the largest producer of pomegranate in the world
  • Propagation: Hardwood cuttings (most common), also air layering
  • Three flowering seasons: Ambe bahar (Jan–Feb), Mrig bahar (June–July), Hasta bahar (Sept–Oct)
  • Mrig bahar is preferred commercially in Maharashtra

IMPORTANT

Bacterial Blight (Oily Spot): Caused by Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. punicaemost destructive disease of pomegranate. Causes oily spots on leaves and fruit, leading to fruit cracking and rotting. Spray Streptocycline 500 ppm + Copper oxychloride 0.2%.

Important Varieties

VarietyKey Feature
Bhagwa (Sinduri)Most popular commercial variety, attractive red, soft-seeded
GaneshSoft-seeded, pinkish-white arils, good for fresh consumption
MridulaDark red arils, good for processing
AraktaDeep red arils, developed by NRCP Sholapur
RubyRed arils
Super BhagwaImproved selection from Bhagwa

Major Pest

  • Anar Butterfly: Deudorix (Virachola) isocrates — larva bores into fruit, most damaging pest
  • Fruit Borer: Also called pomegranate butterfly

TIP

NRCP (National Research Centre on Pomegranate) is located at Sholapur, Maharashtra.


Jackfruit (Kathal)

  • Botanical Name: Artocarpus heterophyllus
  • Family: Moraceae
  • Origin: Western Ghats of India
  • Largest tree-borne fruit in the world (can weigh up to 40–50 kg)
  • Fruit type: Sorosis (multiple fruit)
  • Edible part: Perianth and seeds
  • National fruit of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka
  • State fruit of Kerala
  • Propagation: Seeds (most common), also softwood grafting and epicotyl grafting
  • Contains latex — fruits harvested by applying mustard oil on hands
  • Two types: Koozha (soft, sweet) and Varikka (firm, crisp)

NOTE

Jackfruit is a multipurpose tree — fruit is eaten raw (vegetable) when unripe and as dessert when ripe. Seeds are rich in starch and can be roasted or boiled. Wood is used for furniture and construction.


Ber / Indian Jujube

  • Botanical Name: Ziziphus mauritiana
  • Family: Rhamnaceae
  • Origin: Indo-Burma region
  • Most drought-hardy fruit crop — thrives in arid and semi-arid regions
  • Also called King of Arid Fruits
  • Leading states: Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, Maharashtra
  • Propagation: Budding (T-budding or Shield budding) on Z. rotundifolia rootstock
  • Rootstock: Ziziphus rotundifolia — drought resistant
  • Flowers on current season’s growth — pruning is essential
  • Cross-pollinated crop (entomophilous)

Important Varieties

VarietyKey Feature
UmranLargest fruit, most popular, late maturing
GolaRound shape, early maturing, good quality
SebApple-shaped, very large
MundiaMedium size, good quality
KaithaliOblong shape
Thar SevikaCAZRI release for arid zone

IMPORTANT

Powdery Mildew (Oidium sp.) is the most serious disease of ber. Spray wettable sulphur 0.2% or Karathane 0.1% at the onset of disease.


Comparison Table: Tropical & Subtropical Fruits

Quick Comparison — All Tropical & Subtropical Fruits
FeatureGuavaLitchiPineappleSapotaPomegranateJackfruitBer
FamilyMyrtaceaeSapindaceaeBromeliaceaeSapotaceaePunicaceaeMoraceaeRhamnaceae
OriginTropical AmericaSouthern ChinaBrazilMexicoIranWestern GhatsIndo-Burma
Leading StateU.P.BiharMeghalayaKarnatakaMaharashtraKeralaRajasthan
Fruit TypeBerryNut-like drupeSorosisBerryBalaustaSorosisDrupe
PropagationAir layeringAir layeringSuckers/SlipsInarchingHardwood cuttingsSeedsT-budding
Key VarietyAllahabad SafedaShahiKewKalipattiBhagwaUmran
Special FeatureRichest Vit C sourceSG 1.05 maturityOnly monocot fruitChicle sourceBalausta fruitLargest tree fruitMost drought-hardy
Major DiseaseWilt (Fusarium)Fruit crackingHeart RotLeaf spotBacterial blightSoft rotPowdery mildew
Major PestFruit flyLitchi miteMealy bugLeaf webberAnar butterflyShoot borerFruit fly

Summary Cheat Sheet

Concept / TopicKey Details
Tropical fruitsGrow in frost-free areas; no chilling requirement
Subtropical fruitsTolerate mild frost; intermediate climate
MangoKing of fruits; Manilkara indica; Family Anacardiaceae
Mango propagationVeneer grafting, inarching, stone grafting
BananaMusa spp.; propagated by suckers; triploid
PapayaCarica papaya; papain from unripe latex
Guava”Apple of tropics”; richest in Vitamin C among common fruits
LitchiLitchi chinensis; propagated by air layering; Bihar
PineappleAnanas comosus; fruit = sorosis; contains bromelain
Pineapple propagationSuckers, slips, crowns
SapotaManilkara zapota; source of chicle; propagated by inarching
PomegranatePunica granatum; propagated by hardwood cuttings
JackfruitArtocarpus heterophyllus; largest tree-borne fruit
Custard appleAnnona squamosa; propagated by seeds
AonlaEmblica officinalis; highest Vitamin C fruit
BerZiziphus mauritiana; best fruit for arid zones
Climacteric fruitsMango, banana, papaya, guava, sapota
Non-climactericCitrus, litchi, grapes, pomegranate, pineapple
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