Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya Common Entrance Test For PhD (IGKV-CET) - Syllabus For Fruit Science Department

UNIT-1:
Importance and management of tropical, sub-tropical, temperate and dry land fruit
crops grown in India. Commercial varieties of regional, national and international
importance. Recent trends in propagation, rootstock influence, planting systems, cropping
systems, root zone and canopy management, nutrient management, water management,
fertigation, role of bio-regulators. Physiological disorders- causes and remedies, quality
improvement by management practices; maturity indices, harvesting, grading, packing,
storage and ripening techniques; industrial and export potential. Agri. Export Zones (AEZ)
and industrial supports. Crops - Major (Mango, Banana, Citrus, Papaya, Grapes, Guava,
Sapota, Jackfruit, Aonla, Pomegranate, Ber, Apple, Pear, Plums, Peach, Strawberry), Nuts
(Walnut, Almond), Minor fruits (Bael, Fig and Jamun).

UNIT-2:
Sexual propagation, seed viability, seed vigour, seed germination, seed dormancy,
apomixis, polyembryony, chimeras. Asexual propagation – rooting of soft and hard wood
cutting under mist by growth regulators. Rooting of cuttings in hot beds. Rejuvenation
through top working – Progeny orchard and scion bank Root stocks, scion and inter-stock
relationship. Micro-propagation – principles and concepts, commercial exploitation in
horticultural crops. Nursery – types, structures, components, planning and layout. Nursery
management practices for healthy propagule production.

UNIT-3
Principles of biodiversity in germplasm conservation of fruit crops. Centre of origin
of fruit crops; exploration and collection of germplasm in situ and ex situ; Intellectual
property rights, PPVFRA, NBPGR. Crops (Mango, citrus, guava, banana, papaya, custard
apple).

UNIT-4:
Principles and practices of breeding of fruit crops. Breeding systems, breeding
objectives, approaches for crop improvement - introduction, selection, hybridization,
mutation breeding, polyploidy breeding, rootstock breeding, improvement of quality traits,
resistance breeding for biotic and abiotic stresses in the following selected fruit crops. Crops
(Mango, banana, citrus, grapes, guava, papaya). Biotechnological tools for fruit crop
improvement - genetic engineering, molecular markers, tissue culture.

UNIT-5:
Principles and practices in canopy management of fruit crops. Canopy management￾importance and advantages; factors affecting canopy development. Canopy types and
structures with special emphasis on geometry of planting, canopy manipulation for optimum
utilization of light. Canopy management through plant growth inhibitors, training and pruning
and management practices in fruit crops (grapes, mango, guava, citrus, ber, apple, pomegranate, pear, peach). Role of hormones in different horticultural crops- fruit thinning,
fruit drop, fruit retention, ripening, dormancy breaking and propagation.

UNIT 6:
Importance and scope of post harvest management in fruit crops; Maturity indices,
harvesting practices for specific market requirements, influence of pre-harvest practices.
Physiology and biochemistry of fruit ripening, ripening management, factors leading to post￾harvest losses. Methods of post harvest handling including: pre-cooling, waxing and chemical
treatments, packing methods and transportation; methods of storage- ventilated, refrigerated,
MAS, CA Storage; post harvest disorders. Principles and methods of preservation, canning,
pickles, jam, jellies, candies and preserves. Fruit beverage (squash, cordial, nectar, RTS), dried
and dehydrated products, nutritionally enriched products, processing of waste by-products, food
safety standards (FPO specifications), HACCP, FSSAI.

UNIT-7:
Importance and management of Plantation crops grown in India. Commercial
varieties of regional and national importance. Recent trends in propagation, planting systems,
cropping systems, root zone and canopy management, nutrient management, water
management, fertigation, role of bio-regulators. Physiological disorders- causes and
remedies, quality improvement by management practices; maturity indices, harvesting,
grading, post harvest management; industrial and export potential. Crops – Tea, coffee,
coconut and cashew nut.

2022