Apples: Preharvest and Postharvest Technology

Due to polymorphism, apples have extraordinary diversity. Depending on variety, apple fruits can differ in color, shade or size; apples even can be oval or pear-shaped. There are more than 10,000 varieties of apple, which vary in taste, shape, juiciness, texture, color, firmness and other qualities. For these reasons, apples have been diversely studied, and many improvements have been made such as the introduction of high density cropping; rootstock breeding; or varietal development. Therefore it is important to understand and document the production methods adopted and implemented in recent times for harvesting maximum benefits of the crop. Apples: Preharvest and Postharvest Technology documents production practices along with detailed illustration on varieties, rootstocks, important cultural practices and post-harvest management. This book will serve as a complete guide for apple production from farm to fork and will help students, scholars, researchers and scientists working in this domain. The book will also help growers all over the world to understand best practices for apple production, to harvest maximum yields, and in turn, to increase their returns.