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

The common fig Ficus carica L. is an ancient fruit native to the Mediterranean. Dried figs have been successfully produced and processed in arid regions with little sophisticated infrastructure for centuries. Figs are rich in fibre, trace minerals, polyphenols and vitamins, with higher nutrient levels than most fruits. Advances in agricultural production and postharvest technologies have not only improved the efficiency of dried fig production but have facilitated the development of high value fresh fig industries both for export and domestic markets. The result is high quality fresh figs that are marketed internationally throughout the year. This book provides a comprehensive summary of fig growing, processing and marketing from a scientific and horticultural perspective. It is comprised of 19 chapters that include in-depth discussions of: History of fig cultivation; Physiology; Breeding and cultivars; Propagation; Site selection and orchard establishment; Nutrition and irrigation management; Pollination management; Integrated pest management; Greenhouse production; Harvesting, dried and fresh fig processing; The medicinal uses of figs; and World fig markets. The Fig: Botany, Production and Uses is a comprehensive applied resource for academic researchers, as well as producers, processors, and marketers of dried and fresh figs.

Table of Contents:
1: History, Archaeology and Culture 2: Taxonomy, Botany and Physiology 3: Production and Growing Regions 4: Biodiversity, Germplasm Resources and Breeding Methods 5: Fig World Cultivars 6: Propagation Techniques and Nursery Management 7: Environmental Requirements and Site Selection 8: Orchard Establishment Tree Management 9: Fig Wasps and Pollination 10: Soil and Nutritional Requirements 11: Irrigation and Water Requirements 12: Fungal, Bacterial, and Nematodes Problems in Figs 13: Fig Viruses, Viroids and Phytoplasmas 14: Arthropod Pests of Fig and Their Management 15: Fruit Maturity, Harvest Methods and Technologies 16: Postharvest Physiology and Physiological Disorders of Fresh Fig Fruits 17: Processing and Industrialization 18: Fig and Health 19: World Fig 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. Louise Ferguson (Edited By) Louise Ferguson is an Extension Specialist in the Department of Plant Sciences, University of California in Davis (UC-Davis). Dr. Ferguson has developed research and extension programs in pistachios, olives, figs, citrus, persimmons and pomegranates. Her research focus is on developing and extending long-term applications for sustainable tree production. Specific applied research areas are alternate bearing of tree crops, rootstock effects on multiple scion characteristics, salinity tolerance of pistachios, fig breeding, and mechanical harvesting and pruning of olives and pistachios. She has served as Director of the Fruit and Nut Research and Information Centre at University of Califorina Davis, President of the Plant Growth Regulation Society of America and American Society of Horticultural Science and Core Faculty for the California Agricultural Leadership Foundation's Ag Leadership program.