The Pomegranate: Botany, Production and Uses(Botany, Production and Uses)

The pomegranate, Punica granatum L., is one of the oldest known edible fruits and is associated with the ancient civilizations of the Middle East. This is the first comprehensive book covering the botany, production, processing, health and industrial uses of the pomegranate. The cultivation of this fruit for fresh consumption, juice production and medicinal purposes has expanded more than tenfold over the past 20 years. Presenting a review of pomegranate growing, from a scientific and horticultural perspective, this book provides information on how to increase yields and improve short- and medium-term grower profitability and sustainability. It covers: practices to mitigate pests, diseases and abiotic stresses; yield-based nutrition management; cultural practices for cultivars with horticultural traits such as earliness, high yield, improved taste, soft seeds, disease resistance, and low splitting and sunscald rates; increasing crop diversity to aid crop security; and composition, food uses and medicinal uses. This book is essential literature for researchers in horticulture, for growers and for those involved in the pomegranate industry.

Table of Contents:
1: Archaeology, History and Symbolism 2: Taxonomy, Botany and Physiology 3: Production and Growing Regions 4: Biodiversity, Germplasm Resources and Breeding Methods 5: World Pomegranate Cultivars 6: Propagation Techniques and Nursery Management 7: Environmental Requirements and Site Selection 8: Orchard Establishment and Tree Management 9: Soil and Nutrition 10: Water Requirements and Responses to Irrigation Restrictions 11: Physiological Disorders 12: Diseases and Management 13: Arthropod Pests and Their Management 14: Fruit Maturity, Harvest Methods and Technologies 15: Postharvest Biology and Storage 16: Processing and Industrialization 17: Pomegranate Bioactive Compounds and Health 18: World Pomegranate Market

About the Author :
Ali Sarkhosh (Edited By) Ali Sarkhosh is an Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist (fruit crops) in the Horticultural Sciences Department at the University of Florida, where he has developed research and extension programs in fruit crop production, physiology, and diversification. His research focus is on developing and extending sustainable fruit crops production in Florida. Dr. Sarkhosh has over 15 years of experience with research and production of different fruit crops in U.S., Australia, New Zealand, and Iran. His research with fruit crops has focused on assessment of cultural practices to optimize yield and production efficiency, rootstocks and cultivars evaluations, and breeding. Toward improving fruit crops production, he published many sources of both technical and referred articles in production, physiology, breeding, and genetic diversity. Alimohammad Yavari (Edited By) Ali M. Yavari is a private pomologist and consultant. Mr. Yavari received his M.S. in horticulture (Pomology) from the University of Urmia, Iran. Mr. Yavari has expertise in all aspects of fruit crops production as well as interacting worldwide with commercial growers and researchers in the field of fruit production, mainly tropical and subtropical fruits. His experiences in fig production are mos harvesting and exporting issues, and training courses for orchardists. He provides public and private sectors with designing project design and writing proposals related to fig production and other tropical and subtropical fruits. Zabihollah Zamani (Edited By) Zabihollah Zamani is currently serving as full Professor in the Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Tehran, Iran. He received his B.S. and M.S. degrees in horticulture science and pomology from the University of Tehran, Iran and his Ph.D. in Fruit breeding and biotechnology from University of Sydney, Australia. With over 25 years experience, Dr. Zamani has contributed significant advances in all aspects of pomegranate production including, breeding, biotechnology, physiology, cultural practices, and postharvest. He played an important role in the development of his department in the area of fruit science and biotechnology. Toward improving pomegranate research and development, he published many refereed journal articles, technical reports and extension publications. Dr. Zamani supervised many M.S. and Ph.D. students who did their thesis on fruit crops, specifically on pomegranate. These achievements have been recognized with Dr. Zamani, being invited to serve high-profile advisory boards for developing or leading applied research projects in fruit crops including pomegranate.