Gourt > Science > Agriculture > Horticulture > Fruits (9)
- This article is about botanic and culinary fruits. For the computer chess program, see Fruit (chess).
- For more links to types of fruits see list of fruits.
In botany, a fruit is the ripened ovary—together with seeds—of a flowering plant. In many species, the fruit incorporates the ripened ovary and surrounding tissues. Fruits are the means by which flowering plants disseminate seeds. Evolution has led plants to adopt certain basic mechanisms, seemingly without close regard to the tissues involved. No one terminology really fits the enormous variety that is found among plant fruits. Botanical terminology for fruits is inexact and will remain so. In cuisine, when discussing fruit as food, the term usually refers to just those plant fruits that are sweet and fleshy, examples of which include plum, apple and orange. However, a great many common vegetables, as well as nuts and grains, are the fruit of the plant species they come from.
The term false fruit (pseudocarp, accessory fruit) is sometimes applied to a fruit like the fig (a multiple-accessory fruit; see below) or to a plant structure that resembles a fruit but is not derived from a flower or flowers. Some gymnosperms, such as yew, have fleshy arils that resemble fruits and some junipers have berry-like, fleshy cones. The term "fruit" has also been inaccurately applied to the seed-containing female cones of many conifers.
With most fruits pollination is a vital part of fruit culture, and the lack of knowledge of pollinators and pollenizers can contribute to poor crops or poor quality crops. In a few species, the fruit may develop in the absence of pollination/fertilization, a process known as parthenocarpy. Such fruits are seedless. A plant that does not produce fruit is known as acarpous, meaning essentially "without fruit".
More on [ Fruit ]
Fruit and Nuts
Fruits :: Produce
Fruit :: Plants
Field Crops :: Agriculture
Fruit :: Produce
Fruit :: Plants
Fire Ant Outcompetes Other SpeciesEven in its Native Habitat
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:46:00 -0500
Read the magazine story to find out more. Fire ants have been found to be the most ecologically dominant species in their environment, according to a new ARS study. Photo courtesy of Pest and Diseases Image Library, Bugwood.org. Nine to 20 individual fire ant queens started U.S. fire ant population First virus to infect red imported fire ants discovered Red imported fire ant nemesis gains permanent foothold in Florida Fire Ant Outcompetes Other Species—Even in its Native Habitat By Alfredo Flores July 2, 2009 Even in its native Argentina, the fire ant wins in head-to-head competition with other ant species more than three-quarters of the time, according to Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists. ARS scientists at the South American Biological Control Laboratory (SABCL) in Hurlingham, Argentina, have been studying how different ant species fare against the fire ant as part of an effort to learn more about the behavior of this pest—an invasive species in its non-native United States. Fire ants often attack in swarms--not only causing painful stings to humans, but can even kill small animals. Little has been known, however, about the fire ant's competitive nature or how it interacts with other ants. SABCL biologist Luis Calcaterra, working closely with lab director Juan Briano, has been studying interactions between the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta, and other aboveground foraging ants in two habitats in northeastern Argentina—using a combination of pitfall traps and baits to study day-to-day activity in ant communities. The pitfall trap is a 50 milliliter plastic tube buried in the ground and half-filled with soapy water. The bait is one gram of canned tuna placed on a plastic card measuring five centimeters in diameter. The trap and bait gave the scientists a way to determine ant populations at the sites, and showed the dominance of each species. Some 28 ant species coexisted with S. invicta in an open area of forest growing along a watercourse, whereas only 10 species coexisted with S. invicta in the dry forest grassland. The researchers found that the fire ants had the highest numbers in the open forest area along the watercourse. Prior to these studies, it was thought that the fire ant—now established throughout the Americas—was not dominant in its native land. But the studies showed that the fire ants were the most ecologically dominant, winning 78 percent of the interactions with other ants, mostly against its most frequent competitor, the South American big-headed ant, Pheidole obscurithorax, an ant of northern Argentina and Paraguay also introduced in the United States. And in battles with the invasive Argentine ant, Linepithema humile, the fire ants were even more dominant, winning out 80 percent of the time. This study was published in Oecologia, a journal that deals with plant and animal ecology. Read more about the research in the July 2009 issue of Agricultural Research magazine. ARS is the principal intramural scientific research agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
New Bait Lures Varroa Mite to its Doom
Wed, 01 Jul 2009 09:14:00 -0500
Read the magazine story to find out more. ARS scientists have developed a new bait that may help control varroa mites, the top pest of honey bees. Click the image for more information about it. Finding out how genes govern bees' lives The latest buzz on Russian bees New test on tap for detecting pesticide-resistant mites New Bait Lures Varroa Mite to its Doom By Jan Suszkiw July 1, 2009 Varroa mites could literally be walking into a trap—thanks to a new attractant developed by Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists in Gainesville, Fla. The 1/16-inch long parasite, Varroa destructor, is a top pest of honey bees nationwide, hindering the beneficial insects' ability to pollinate almonds, blueberries, apples, zucchini and many other flowering crops. At the ARS Chemistry Research Unit in Gainesville, research leader Peter Teal and colleagues are testing a bait-and-kill approach using sticky boards and natural chemical attractants called semiochemicals. In nature, Varroa mites rely on these semiochemicals to locate—and then feed on—the bloodlike hemolymph of both adult honey bees and their brood. Severe infestations can decimate an affected hive within several months—and rob the beekeeper of profits from honey or pollinating services. But in this case, the mites encounter a more heady bouquet of honey bee odors that lure the parasites away from their intended hosts and onto the sticky boards, where they starve. In preliminary tests, 35 to 50 percent of mites dropped off the bees when exposed to the attractants. Free-roving mites found the semiochemicals even more attractive, according to Teal. Moreover, the extra dose of semiochemicals wafting through hives didn't appear to significantly interfere with the honey bees' normal behavior or activity, added Teal who, along with postdoctoral associate Adrian Duehl and University of Florida collaborator Mark Carroll, reported the results this past January at the 2009 North American Beekeeping Conference in Reno, Nev. The team hopes ARS' patenting of the Varroa mite attractants will encourage an industrial partner to develop the technology further. Read more about the research in the July 2009 issue of Agricultural Research magazine. ARS is the principal intramural scientific research agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Spraying Herbicide on Invasive Weeds Doesn't Always Pay
Tue, 30 Jun 2009 09:52:00 -0500
It may not always pay for ranchers to use herbicides to kill exotic invasive weeds on the range, according to a new study. Click the image for more information about it. Knowing where to look for invasive leafy spurge Seeded pastures can sustain cattle-and native rangelands USDA Livestock and Range Research Lab expansion unveiled Spraying Herbicide on Invasive Weeds Doesn't Always Pay, Study Shows By Don Comis June 30, 2009 It may not always pay for ranchers to use herbicides to kill exotic invasive weeds such as leafy spurge, according to a 16-year study by the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and colleagues. Rangeland ecologist Matt Rinella at the ARS Fort Keogh Livestock and Range Research Laboratory in Miles City, MT, and colleagues conducted the study. Data they collected 16 years after a one-time aerial spraying of herbicide showed that the invasive leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula L) may have ultimately increased due to spraying. Conversely, several desirable native forbs were still suffering the effects of spraying 16 years after spraying. Although the herbicide would have dissipated within a few years, it seemed to cause a long-term plant community shift. Any increase in grass production from the herbicide spraying only lasted a year or two. The study was done on the N-Bar Ranch in Montana. Each plot was either grazed and sprayed, grazed but not sprayed, not grazed but sprayed or not grazed or sprayed. Cattle grazing helped maintain native plant numbers when herbicide was used. Cattle grazing can help native forbs thrive because cattle prefer grasses over forbs, and cattle trample soil, loosening soil for seeds that the animals inadvertently plant when seeds are caught in their hooves or fur. That said, when herbicide wasn't used, most native forbs did as well with or without cattle grazing. Herbicide caused the native plants Missouri goldenrod and yarrow to become rarer over the 16-year study period. Barring herbicides, these two species proved capable of co-existing indefinitely with the exotics. Four native perennials became rarer in sprayed plots, but only when grazing was excluded: velvety goldenrod, white prairie aster, vetch, and prairie sagewort. Herbicide spraying caused no long-term harm to four other native perennials. Rockjasmine and other plants belonging to the Androsace spp. group were not affected by the herbicide even initially. The study suggests that applying herbicides over large areas of land containing herbicide-sensitive native plants is sometimes ill-advised. The research was published in the journal Ecological Applications. ARS is the principal intramural scientific research agency in the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
USDA - Agriculture
Remarks by First Lady Michelle Obama at the U.S. Department Of Agriculture
Transcript: Secretary Tom Vilsack Hosts News Conference Call with Reporters
Johanns Signs Framework Agreement with United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization Director General Diouf Johanns' One Year Report on Avian Influenza Actions
Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns and Director-General Jacques Diouf of the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) today signed a Framework Agreement to coordinate technical assistance between USDA and the FAO. The agreement will help to address issues important to agriculture, such as chronic hunger, plant and animal diseases including avian influenza, conservation, genetic resources and the growing demand for renewable energy resources.
404
Arkansas Agriculture: Horticulture: Fruits and Nuts - University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service presents a series of publications and fact sheets for the cultivation of various crops, including berry fruits, grapes, peaches, and nectarines.
AvocadoSource.com - News, information, links and chat for avocado growers in many of the leading growing nations.
Meta Description: [ The platform for thoughts and ideas about avocado culture, which
links the international avocado community through shared knowledge and
experience. ]
Betocarib - Describes a research project on Begomovirus disease management for sustainable production of tomato in the Caribbean.
Meta Description: [ Betocarib : research project on
Begomovirus disease management for sustainable production of tomato in
the Caribbean. Information service on the project, and the partners ]
CABI Commodities - Information and services for growers of coffee and cocoa.
Meta Description: [ Sustainable, environmentally friendly knowledge solutions for smallholder coffee and cocoa farmers: information, agricultural research and training on crop protection, crop quality improvement & post-harvest processing ]
Cornell University Fruit Resources - Features information for scientists, gardeners, and commercial growers, including fact sheets and programs.
European Collection of Minor Fruit Trees - European Union project collects varieties of minor fruits cultivated around the Mediterranean. Holdings include cornelian cherry, figs, loquat, medlar, pomegranate, sorbus, strawberry tree. Description of project, database of holdings, descriptions and photographs of plants.
Fruits from America - An ethnobotanical inventory of fruits native to the Americas. Introduction to the study, and overview of species arranged by plant family.
Fruits of Warm Climates - Detailed descriptions of the fruits that grow in warmer and tropical climates. An online book.
International Cocoa Germplasm Database - Information on ICGD, based at the University of Reading, UK.
International Symposium on Tropical and Subtropical Fruits - Online scientific papers concerning fruit and fruit cultivation.
Meta Description: [ ISHS International Symposium on Tropical and Subtropical Fruits ]
404
International Tropical Fruits Network: Fruit Compendium - Extensive directory of information about many tropical fruits with links to references.
M Horticultural Extension - Fruit - Features publications, research, newsletters, and links.
Meta Description: [ Aggie Horticulture Web Site ]
M Stone Fruit Breeding Program - Includes cultivar evaluations, articles, and news.
Meta Description: [ Stone fruit information especially for Texas, but applies to all of souteastern US. Variety recommendations with pictures ]
Mark Rieger's Fruit Crop Home Page - Horticulture professor's survey of the taxonomy and culture of the world's major fruit crops.
Meta Description: [ Department of Horticulture, Fruit Crops ]
New Jersey Commercial Tree Fruit Production Guide - Online edition of a 133-page manual covering production of orchard fruit crops, compiled by Dr. Robert Belding of the Rutgers Cooperative Extension.
New Jersey Fruit Focus - Includes newsletter, research reports, news, and commercial tree fruit production guide.
North American Blueberry Council - Promoting highbush blueberry growing. Information on the plant, growth, and the product.
Meta Description: [ US Highbush Blueberry Council . ]
Penn State Fruit Research and Extension Center - Includes production guides and newsletters.
Pennsylvania Tree Fruit Production Guide - Online information on diseases, pests, natural enemies, chemical management, integrated pest management, harvest and postharvest handling, cider production and farm management, establishing an orchard, choosing a tree fruit nursery, caring for nonbearing trees, and maintaining bearing orchards.
Meta Description: [ The Tree Fruit production guide is a commerical guide for Pennsylvania fruit growers containing cutural, chemical, disease, insect and harvesting recommendations. ]
Persimmon Index: Crop Information - Tips on growing, picking and protecting a planting of persimmons.
Pome, Stone and other Deciduous Fruit Crops - Factsheets on fruit cultivation, diseases, and production. Focus is on Australia.
404
Pruning and Training Fruit Trees - Online slide show illustrates techniques.
Quebec Fruit Breeding and Physiology Laboratory - Research center and online reference for apple and strawberry growers, also with information about wine grapes and ginseng.
Rutgers Blueberry and Cranberry Research and Extension Center - Includes information on the history of these crops, cultivation methods and techniques.
Small-Scale Fruit Production - a Comprehensive Guide - An online resource for people who wish to produce fruit on a small scale and who are not legally licensed to use pesticides. From Pennsylvania State University.
Meta Description: [ Fruit Production for the Home Gardener is a wonderful resource for home gardeners who wish to product fruit on a small scale. ]
Tamarind - Detailed account of Tamarindus indica, including its origin, cultivation, uses.
The American Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) - Cranberry history, images, associations, publications, recipes, genetics, statistics, market information, news, pests, weeds, diseases, and reference resources.
The Breadfruit Institute - Project of the National Tropical Botanical Garden in Hawaii. Includes uses, research, varieties, mission, and resources
Meta Description: [ National Tropical Botanical Garden is dedicated to preserving tropical plant diversity and stemming this tide of extinction - through plant exploration, propagation, habitat restoration, scientific research, and education. ]
The Cranberry Institute - Conducts research into the crop. Includes brief details of recent work and findings.
Meta Description: [ The Cranberry Institute is dedicated to the scientific discovery of the cranberry's health benefits. Read the latest health research and news; download our brochure and images; eat healthier with cranberries. ]
500
Tropical Fruit - Listing of publications available from Australia's NSW Department of Agriculture. Some of the publications, whose topics range from bananas and passionfruit to orchard groundcovers, are free for download, others for sale.
Tropical Fruits - Information from the International Plant Genetic Resources Institute on tropical fruits of the Asia-Pacific-Oceania region, outlining its objectives and activities. Includes bibliography
Meta Description: [ This page contains information on IPGRI activities for developing buckwheat network ]
University of Florida's Strawberry Lab - For research concerning strawberry growing, particularly in Florida.
Virginia Fruit Page - Fact sheets on the cultivation of various fruit crops.
Wye College National Fruit Collections - Details of the UK National Fruit Collection, which maintains a genetic stock of cultivated top and bush fruit.
| Amazing Fruit Facts | |
| Next Video | |
