Subtropical and Temperate Fruit Production
HORMA 201 - M.Sc. (Ag.) Horticulture
UNIT II: Plums, peach, apricot, cherries, hazlenut
Table of Contents
Commercial varieties of regional, national and international importance,
Ecophysiological requirements, recent trends in propagation, rootstock influence,
planting systems, cropping systems, root zone and canopy management, nutrient
management, water management, fertigation, bioregulation, abiotic factors limiting fruit
production, physiology of flowering, fruit set and development, abiotic factors limiting
production, physiological disorders-causes and remedies, quality improvement by
management practices; maturity indices, harvesting, grading, packing, precooling,
storage, transportation and ripening techniques; industrial and export potential, Agri Export Zones(AEZ) and industrial support.
Chapter 9 -
🌰 HAZELNUT (Corylus avellana)
Family: Betulaceae
Chromosome number: 2n = 22
Origin: Europe and Western Asia
Common names: Filbert, Cobnut
🔹 1. Commercial Varieties of Regional, National & International Importance
India:
Grown in Kashmir Valley, Himachal Pradesh (Kinnaur, Lahaul-Spiti), Uttarakhand
Still under trial; commercial scale not well established
Internationally Important Varieties:
Barcelona: Widely grown, large nuts, high yield
Tonda di Giffoni: Italian, excellent quality
Ennis: Large nuts, good for fresh markets
Tombul: Turkish variety, good kernel percentage
Butler: Productive, disease-tolerant
Lewis, Clark, Halls Giant: US cultivars with better disease resistance
🔹 2. Ecophysiological Requirements
Climate: Cool temperate zones
Chilling requirement: ~800–1,200 hours
Frost: Hardy but spring frost affects catkin/pollen
Soil: Deep, fertile, well-drained loam; pH 6–7.5
Altitude: 1,200–2,200 m in India
Sensitive to waterlogging
Climate: Cool temperate zones
Chilling requirement: ~800–1,200 hours
Frost: Hardy but spring frost affects catkin/pollen
Soil: Deep, fertile, well-drained loam; pH 6–7.5
Altitude: 1,200–2,200 m in India
Sensitive to waterlogging
🔹 3. Recent Trends in Propagation
Seed propagation: For rootstock only
Vegetative propagation:
Mound layering – traditional, most common
Hardwood cuttings – limited success
Micropropagation – being explored for elite cultivars
Seed propagation: For rootstock only
Vegetative propagation:
Mound layering – traditional, most common
Hardwood cuttings – limited success
Micropropagation – being explored for elite cultivars
🔹 4. Rootstock Influence
Generally own-rooted through layering
Use of seedling rootstocks (C. colurna) in Europe for:
Better tree form
Deep rooting
Tolerance to drought
Generally own-rooted through layering
Use of seedling rootstocks (C. colurna) in Europe for:
Better tree form
Deep rooting
Tolerance to drought
🔹 5. Planting Systems
Spacing: 4–5 m × 4–5 m (depending on cultivar vigor)
Systems: Square system or hedgerow in HDP
Training: Multi-stemmed bush (common) or single-trunk tree (in orchards)
Spacing: 4–5 m × 4–5 m (depending on cultivar vigor)
Systems: Square system or hedgerow in HDP
Training: Multi-stemmed bush (common) or single-trunk tree (in orchards)
🔹 6. Cropping Systems
Intercropping with legumes, vegetables during initial years
Integrated into agroforestry systems in some regions
Companion crops should not compete for light or nutrients
Intercropping with legumes, vegetables during initial years
Integrated into agroforestry systems in some regions
Companion crops should not compete for light or nutrients
🔹 7. Root Zone and Canopy Management
Shallow roots: Avoid deep cultivation
Suckering is common; annual removal is essential
Canopy:
Thinning required for light penetration
Prune to maintain open center for airflow
Shallow roots: Avoid deep cultivation
Suckering is common; annual removal is essential
Canopy:
Thinning required for light penetration
Prune to maintain open center for airflow
🔹 8. Nutrient Management
FYM: 15–20 kg/tree/year
NPK (per mature tree):
N: 150–200 g
P₂O₅: 100–150 g
K₂O: 200–250 g
Micronutrients: Zn and B sprays beneficial
FYM: 15–20 kg/tree/year
NPK (per mature tree):
N: 150–200 g
P₂O₅: 100–150 g
K₂O: 200–250 g
Micronutrients: Zn and B sprays beneficial
🔹 9. Water Management
Moderate water requirement
Irrigation critical in dry periods during nut development (May–July)
Avoid waterlogging → root rot common
Moderate water requirement
Irrigation critical in dry periods during nut development (May–July)
Avoid waterlogging → root rot common
🔹 10. Fertigation
Suitable for modern orchards with drip irrigation
Split application of NPK improves yield & nut quality
Suitable for modern orchards with drip irrigation
Split application of NPK improves yield & nut quality
🔹 11. Bioregulation
🔹 12. Abiotic Factors Limiting Production
Late spring frost: Damages male flowers (catkins)
Drought: Poor nut fill
Waterlogging: Root diseases
High temperatures: Affects pollination and nut development
Late spring frost: Damages male flowers (catkins)
Drought: Poor nut fill
Waterlogging: Root diseases
High temperatures: Affects pollination and nut development
🔹 13. Physiology of Flowering, Fruit Set & Development
Monoecious: Male (catkins) and female (tiny red styles) flowers on same plant
Pollination: Wind pollinated
Flowering: Late winter or early spring before leaf emergence
Nut development: Requires 6–7 months
Monoecious: Male (catkins) and female (tiny red styles) flowers on same plant
Pollination: Wind pollinated
Flowering: Late winter or early spring before leaf emergence
Nut development: Requires 6–7 months
🔹 14. Physiological Disorders – Causes & Remedies
🔹 15. Quality Improvement by Management
Adequate water and nutrient supply during nut fill
Pest/disease control
Pruning to open canopy improves quality
Adequate water and nutrient supply during nut fill
Pest/disease control
Pruning to open canopy improves quality
🔹 16. Maturity Indices
Involucre (husk) dries and opens
Nuts fall to ground
Kernel turns brown and fills shell completely
Involucre (husk) dries and opens
Nuts fall to ground
Kernel turns brown and fills shell completely
🔹 17. Harvesting, Grading & Packing
Harvesting: Manual shaking or mechanical sweepers
Grading: By size and shell integrity
Packing: In jute or netted bags after drying
Harvesting: Manual shaking or mechanical sweepers
Grading: By size and shell integrity
Packing: In jute or netted bags after drying
🔹 18. Precooling, Storage & Transportation
Pre-drying: Essential to reduce mold
Storage:
Temp: 0–4°C
RH: 60–70%
Shelf life: 6–9 months in-shell, >1 year when de-shelled and vacuum-packed
Transport: In well-aerated, dry containers
Pre-drying: Essential to reduce mold
Storage:
Temp: 0–4°C
RH: 60–70%
Shelf life: 6–9 months in-shell, >1 year when de-shelled and vacuum-packed
Transport: In well-aerated, dry containers
🔹 19. Ripening Techniques
Not needed: Nuts ripen physiologically on the tree
Drying at 30–35°C improves shelf life
Not needed: Nuts ripen physiologically on the tree
Drying at 30–35°C improves shelf life
🔹 20. Industrial & Export Potential
Uses: Confectionery, chocolate, bakery, spreads (Nutella), roasted snacks, oil
Major producers: Turkey (70% of global production), Italy, USA (Oregon), Spain
India: High potential in hilly regions; demand in bakery/confectionery industries
Uses: Confectionery, chocolate, bakery, spreads (Nutella), roasted snacks, oil
Major producers: Turkey (70% of global production), Italy, USA (Oregon), Spain
India: High potential in hilly regions; demand in bakery/confectionery industries
🔹 21. Agri Export Zones (AEZ) & Industrial Support
No AEZ for Hazelnut in India yet
Government schemes (MIDH, NHB) support temperate fruit development
Scope:
Organic hazelnut cultivation
Agroforestry models
Export substitution for imported processed products
APEDA: Training & export support for temperate fruitsNo AEZ for Hazelnut in India yet
Government schemes (MIDH, NHB) support temperate fruit development
Scope:
Organic hazelnut cultivation
Agroforestry models
Export substitution for imported processed products
Subtropical and Temperate Fruit Production- Click here for all unit notes
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