T.K. Bose
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 in 1993 and 2002 through regular incorporation of updated research works in one and two volumes respectively. Wide array of modern research approaches on fruit crops in India and abroad during last two decades warrant fourth revision of the book in four volumes. In this edition every aspect of production protection breeding and biotechnology of 48 fruit crops grown in tropical and subtropical regions were dealt with by eminent academicians and scientists on fruit crops in the country and abroad. This book structured with thousands of references and colour photographs stands as unique of its own. Students researchers horticulturists agricultural research scientists and extension personnel across the world will find this book very informative as well as practical.
