Temperate Fruits

Production, Processing, and Marketing

Debashis Mandal, Ursula Wermund, Lop Phavaphutanon, Regina Cronje, Debashis Mandal, Ursula Wermund, Lop Phavaphutanon, Regina Cronje

• Publisher: Apple Academic Press
• Year: 2021
• ISBN:
  9781000067910
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Design
• Subtopic: Design industriale

This volume, Temperate Fruits: Production, Processing, and Marketing, presents the latest pomological research on the production, postharvest handling, processing and storage, and information on marketing for a selection of temperate fruits. These include apple, pear, quince, peach, plum, sweet cherry, kiwifruit, strawberry, mulberry, and chestnut. With chapters from fruit experts from different countries of the world, the book provides the latest information on the effect of climate change on fruit production, organic fruit growing and advanced fruit breeding, the nutraceutical value and bioactive compounds in fruits and their role in human health, and new and advanced methods of fruit production. Topics include microirrigation, sustainable nutrient management, crop protection and plant health management, and farm mechanization.

CHAPTER 1
APPLE

GRACIELA MARÍA COLAVITA¹*, MARIELA CURETTI², DOLORES RAFFO³, MARÍA CRISTINA SOSA⁴, and LAURA I. VITA¹

1 Plant Physiology, Comahue Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Comahue National University, National Council for Science and Technology (UNCo-CONICET), Road 151, Km 12.5, Cinco Saltos, 8303 Río Negro, Patagonia, Argentina

2 Plant Nutrition, Horticultural Department, National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA-E.E.A Alto Valle), General Roca 8332, Argentina

3 Fruit Production, Horticultural Department, National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA-E.E.A Alto Valle), General Roca 8332, Argentina

4 Plant Pathology, Comahue Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Comahue National University, National Council for Science and Technology (UNCo-CONICET), Cinco Saltos, Río Negro, Patagonia, Argentina.

* Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]

ABSTRACT

The genus Malus originated in Central and Minor Asia. There is evidence that apple was cultivated as early as 1000 BC. Today, about 72 million tons of quality fruit are produced annually worldwide across approximately 5 million hectares. The reasons for this success are that apple trees grow in different agroecological conditions and respond to the application of technological tools that increase yields. Apple fruits are pleasing to the eye and to the taste, they provide good nutrients with low calories, and they adapt well to conservation. Its particular suitability for transport has made the apple one of the most accomplished examples of globalization of markets. This chapter covers such topics as botany, taxonomy, varieties and cultivars, rootstocks, composition, and nutritional use of the apple. There is updated information on basic aspects of breeding and crop improvement, orchard management, harvest, postharvest, high-tech cultivation, transport, and packing. Topics such as disease, pest, and physiological disorders are also taken into account.

1.1 GENERAL INTRODUCTION

Wild apple (Malus sp.) archeological records have been dated to prehis-tory. There is general agreement that apple originated in Central and Minor Asia, and the species were distributed worldwide, mostly in temperate regions. The genus Malus is a member of the Rosaceae family. Apple tree cultivation is assumed to have started in Greek times. Of the 7500 types of apples that exist in the world today, only 10 cultivars account for 90% of the commercial production. Apple production is a multi-billion-dollar industry; exports earn over 7.5 billion dollars globally. World apple production is approximately 72 million tons across approximately 5 million hectares. Different types of apples have been developed in order to produce fruits with different tastes and textures. Such varieties allow apples to be eaten fresh, cooked, dried, or to be used in juice and cider production. The nutritional benefits of apples are well known. Apples are rich in flavonoids, pectin, vita-mins, potassium, and fiber, and low in sodium, calories, and fat. Apples show enormous genetic variation, so breeders are constantly researching to obtain new cultivars and root-stocks. Breeders’ programs work on genes related to tree vigor control, precocity of flowering, aspects related to fruit quality and storage life, and resistance to many diseases and pests that have already been identified. Apples are cultivated in temperate regions, but they can also be produced across a diversity of climates and soils. The amount of water needed at an apple orchard depends on the climate, soil characteristics, planting system, irrigation technique adopted according to the environmental conditions, and the management and productive level of the orchard. The success of apple culture and production depends on the selection of appropriate scion and rootstock, the local agro-ecosystem, and the cultural practices. Apple trees are grown in rectangular plots and the training systems are conditioned by the scion−rootstock selected. The shape and size of the tree are obtained and maintained by pruning. Apple trees set more fruit than needed for good quality production, so fruit thinning must be done to decrease limb breakage, stimulate floral initiation for the next productive cycle, increase fruit size, and improve fruit color. Apple fruits allow long-term storage, so less mature fruits can be marketed after a cold-storage period, whereas ripe fruits are sold immediately after harvest.

1.2 AREA AND PRODUCTION

The world apple production has increased by about 155% over the past 50 years, increasing from 1.9 million to 5 million hectares in 2014 (www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data). The average production volume of apple fruits was 25.4 million tons between 1965 and 1974, which rose to 84.6 million tons in 2014, representing an increase of more than 200% (Figure 1.1).

FIGURE 1.1 Annual evolution of the area harvested and the production of apple crops in the world (1965–2014).

Source: FAO (www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data).

The comparison of the area and production data makes it possible to consider the evolution over time and the yield of apple crops. Table 1.1. shows the world average values for each period of 10 years for three indicators: area, production, and yield of apple crops, as well as the percentage increase, calculated using the values for 1965–1974 as reference. The largest percentage increase was observed in production (184.5%), in relation to the area and the progressive increase in the yields. About 72 million tons of quality apple fruits are produced annually worldwide across approximately 5 million hectares.

TABLE 1.1 Average Values of Production, Worldwide Area, and Yield of Apple Crops for Periods of 10 years (Percentual Increase from 1965–1974 to 2005–2014)

Period	1965–1974	1975–1984	1985–1994	1995–2004	2005–2014	Percentage Increase
Area harvested (ha)	2,482,934	3,569,333	5,092,717	5,500,128	4,857,879	155
Production (tons)	25,392,973	34,879,330	30,844,167	56,596,046	72,249,175	184
Yield (kg/ha)	101,730.8	97,505.8	83,159.5	104,336.1	148,503.9	45

Data source: FAO (www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data)

All continents produce apples, but in the last 20 years, Asia has stood out as the largest producer in the world, expanding its apple production from 29.2 million tons to 44.4 million tons (2005–2014) (Figure 1.2).

FIGURE 1.2 Distribution of apple production for continents over the last 50 years.

Source: FAO (www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data).

The first position of Asia in the world is heavily influenced by China, currently the largest producer of apples. About 43.5 million tons come from this country, which is more than 50% of the global production (Table 1.2). China’s apple crops are expected to increase according to a recent United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Global Agriculture Information Network (GAIN) report on fresh deciduous fruits. The United States is the second largest producer of apples with over 4 million tons, followed by Turkey, Poland, and Italy (Table 1.2).

TABLE 1.2 Leading Apple-producing Countries m 2016, in Tons

Country	Production	Country	Production
China	43,500,000	Chile	1,770,000
United States	4,600,000	France	1,528,000
Turkey	2,700,000	Iran	1,340,000
Poland	2,500,000	Russia	1,300,000
India	2,164,000	Argentina	983,000
Italy	1,911,000	Brazil	980,000

Sources: The World Apple and Pear Association (http://www.wapa-association.org/asp/index.asp) and United States Department of Agriculture, Fresh Deciduous Fruit: World Markets and Trade (Apples, Grapes, and Pears) (https://apps.fas.usda.gov/psdonline/ circulars/fruit.pdf) (June 2017).

PolandApples (http://www.polandapples.com) (October 2017).

In the Southern Hemisphere, the largest producing countries are Brazil, Chile, Argentina, South Africa, New Zealand, and Australia (FAO, 2014; Jackson, 2003).

1.3 MARKETING AND TRADE

World apple production in marketing year 2016/17 was approximately 72.8 million tons (United States Department of Agriculture, 2017). China’s entry into the apple market has had a crucial effect on the world trade in terms of this fruit since the production of this country in the early 1990s was almost the same as it currently exports. It should be expected that China’s production will continue to rise because it continues to plant apples. Apple exports value over 7.5 billion dollars globally. The United States is at the top among the 10 countries that export the apple fruit with worth well over 1 billion dollars. In addition to the United States and China, other leading exporter countries of the Northern Hemisphere are Poland, Italy, France, Holland, and Belgium. In the Southern Hemisphere, Chile, South Africa, New Zealand, and, to a lesser extent, Argentina and Brazil, also stand out (Figure 1.3).

FIGURE 1.3 Value of exports from different countries (×1000 USD).

Source: FAO (www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data).

Russia is the main importer of apples. This country annually imports approximately 800 million dollars of apples, followed by countries such as Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and China (Figure 1.4). In these countries, the domestic deman...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half Title
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Series Page
• About the Editors
• Contents
• Contributors
• Abbreviations
• Preface
• 1. Apple
• 2. Pear
• 3. Quince
• 4. Peach
• 5. Plum
• 6. Sweet Cherry
• 7. Kiwifruit
• 8. Strawberry
• 9. Mulberry
• 10. Chestnut
• Index