'Several reports have shown that adequate intake of fruits form an important part of a healthy diet and low fruit intake constitute a risk factor for chronic diseases such as cancer, coronary heart disease, stroke and cataract formation. Fruits crops are thus considered essential for well-balanced diets since they supply vitamins, minerals, dietary fibre and phyto-chemicals. Special emphasis has been placed long back through the education on fruit science with the publication of the text-cum reference book in a single volume Fruit Crops: Tropical and sub-tropical as early as 1985. This book was greatly appreciated and proved valuable to the students, teachers, researchers and extension specialists in horticulture in general and fruit science in particular, in different parts of the world. Keeping the demand and interest of the stakeholders in view, this book was revised further Read more Table of Contents From the Desk of Editor Emeritus v Preface to the Fourth Edition from Senior Editor vii Preface to the Fourth Edition from Editors ix List of Contributors xv 1. Citrus 1 1.0 Introduction 2.0 Composition and Uses 3.0 Origin and Distribution 4.0 Species and Cultivars 5.0 Breeding and Improvement 6.0 Propagation 7.0 Area and Production 8.0 Soil and Climate 9.0 Cultivation 10.0 Flowering, Pollination, Fruit Growth and Development 11.0 Pests, Diseases and Disorders 12.0 Harvesting and Yield 13.0 Post-harvest management 14.0 Biotechnology 15.0 References. 2. Pomegranate 165 1.0 Introduction 2.0 Composition and Uses 3.0 Origin and Distribution 4.0 Species and Cultivars 5.0 Breeding and Improvement 6.0 Propagation 7.0 Area and Production 8.0 Soil and Climate 9.0 Cultivation 10.0 Flowering, Pollination, Fruit Growth and Development 11.0 Pests, Diseases and Disorders Read more About the Author/Editor Professor T.K. Bose awarded M.Sc. (Ag.), Ph.D. degree from Calcutta University, West Bengal, India. Former Horticulturist and Secretary of the Agri-Horticultural Society of India; Project Coordinator, All India Coordinated Floriculture Improvement Project (ICAR); Professor and Head, Department of Horticulture; Dean, Faculty of Agriculture; Director of Research, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, West Bengal; Member, State Agriculture Commission, West Bengal; Member of Scientific Advisory Committees of ICAR, CSIR (Govt. of India) and Government of West Bengal. Awarded D.Sc. (Honoris Causa) from OUAT, Bhubaneshwar, Odisha and UBKV, Coochbehar, West Bengal, India. Guided around 45 students for their Ph.D. degree, published more than 250 research papers and authored 30 books on horticultural crops. Dr. V.A. Parthasarathy has about half a century of research experience in Horticulture particularly in the field of genetics and biotechnology. Former Director, Indian Institute of Spices Research, Kerala, India. President of National Academy of Biological Sciences. Edited/authored over 50 books, about 100 review/ invited papers and over 225 research papers.