About The Book

Under Exploited Fruit Crops – Volume I is a pioneering effort dedicated to highlighting the significance, potential, and cultivation aspects of lesser-known or underutilized fruit crops in India. These fruits, often overlooked in mainstream horticulture, hold immense promise for nutritional enrichment, ecological sustainability, and rural income generation.

Edited by distinguished horticultural scientists — Dr. K. Gopal, Dr. K. Ajay Kumar, and Dr. S. Firoz Hussain — this volume brings together scientific knowledge, traditional wisdom, and field-level experiences to provide an in-depth resource for researchers, students, growers, and extension workers.

This volume covers a range of under exploited fruits such as aonla (Indian gooseberry), bael, jamun, phalsa, karonda, rose apple, tamarind, kokum, ramphal (custard apple) and others, emphasizing their:

• Botanical identity and genetic diversity

• Agro-climatic suitability

• Propagation and cultivation techniques

• Pest and disease management

• Postharvest handling and value addition

• Medicinal and nutritional value

• Commercialization prospects

The book encourages the wider adoption and conservation of these crops, promoting crop diversification and climate-resilient horticulture. It serves as a valuable guide for tapping into the hidden potential of India’s rich fruit biodiversity.

Under Exploited Fruit Crops – Volume II is a continuation of an important academic and practical series that brings to light the untapped potential of lesser-known fruit species in India and beyond. These crops, often referred to as “neglected,” “minor,” or “orphan” fruits, are rich in nutrients, naturally resilient to climate challenges, and embedded in traditional food and health systems — yet remain underutilized in mainstream horticulture and markets.

This volume, edited by leading horticultural experts — Dr. K. Gopal, Dr. P. Pratyusha Bhagavati, Dr. B. Srinivasulu, and Dr. K. Ajay Kumar — explores a wide range of underexploited fruits including Bilimbi, Breadfruit, Carambola, Chironji, Jungle Jalebi, Karonda, Ker, Longan, Loquat, Mahua, Mangosteen, Miracle Fruit, Mulberry, Noni, Persimmon, Pilu, Sea Buckthorn, Sour Sop, and Wood Apple.

Each chapter covers:

• Botany and origin

• Agro-climatic and soil adaptability

• Propagation and cultivation techniques

• Pest and disease management

• Harvesting, post-harvest handling, and value addition

• Nutritional, therapeutic, and commercial potential

This book not only offers a scientific foundation but also provides insights into socio-economic implications, policy relevance, and market opportunities. It is particularly valuable for students, researchers, faculty, extension workers, progressive farmers, agri-entrepreneurs, and policymakers who seek to promote crop diversification, sustainability, and rural development.

Volume II underscores the importance of reintroducing biodiversity into our food systems and makes a compelling case for integrating these fruits into climate-resilient and nutrition-sensitive agriculture.

About Author

K. Gopal.He completed his B.Sc (Agriculture) and M.Sc (Ag.) Plant Pathology
from ANGRAU, S.V. Agricultural College, Tirupati. He completed his PhD
(Ag.) Plant Pathology from, UAS, Bengaluru. He held many externally
funded projects viz., DBT, DST, NATP (CGP), RKVY, APCOST, ICAR -
CHES fund while working on Sweet Orange, Acid lime and other crops.
Developed many Horticultural Technologies in Sweet orange, Acid lime,
Turmeric, Onion, Knol khol, Coriander, Capsicum, etc., and established
Molecular diagnosis laboratory for indexing of Sweet orange scion mother
trees for supply of virus free planting material to the orchardists in the
country. Developed protection technologies in Sweet orange and Acid lime.
He produced and supplied lakhs of sweet orange grafts and seedlings of
Balaji Acid lime, which is Cancer resistant with high yielding ability.
He has been honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award-2024,
Outstanding Plant Protection Award-2024 and the Rafi Ahmed Kidwai
Award-2025 recognizing his unparalleled dedication and transformative
work in horticultural and agricultural sciences. He is a recipient of
Dr.B.Vasantharaj David Award, Paramount Achievement Award- 2018, Shri
V.P. Gokhale Prize, Dr. Shyam Singh Best Citrus Scientist Award, Prof.
H.C. Dube Outstanding Young Scientist Award, Sardar Patel Award,
Talented Scientist Award, Distinguished Faculty Award, A.V. Krishnaiah

memorial award, Sri Veerapaneni Narasimham Memorial Gold Medal, Out-
standing Scientist, Two Best poster Awards, Second Best poster Award,

Third Best Poster Presentation Award, Best poster presentation award, Best
poster Awards. Published research papers in 127 national, 16 international
research journals, 19 popular articles, 24 leaflets/ folders, presented 124
papers in conferences, delivered 26 radio talks, 66 TV programmes.
President of Indian Society of Plant Pathologists, received Fellow of Indian

About the Editors

Dr. S. Firoz Hussain presently working as a Scientist
(Horticulture) at Dr. YSR Horticultural University, Krishi
Vigyan Kendra, Vonipenta. He completed B.Sc (Hons.)
Horticulture, M.Sc (Hort.) Fruit Science and Ph.D (Hort.)
Fruit Science from Dr. YSR Horticultural University,
Venkataramannagudem. He did his PhD research work
under the guidance of Dr. BNS Murthy, Ex Horticulture
Commissioner, DAC and FW, GOI, New Delhi and Ex

Dr. Kuruba Ajay Kumar, Assistant Professor, in Dept.
of VSSD, School of Agricultural Sciences, Nagaland
University, Medziphema Campus, completed his B.Sc
(Hons.) Horticulture from Dr. YSRHU – College of
Horticulture, Anantharajupeta. He finished his M.Sc
(Hort.) Fruit Science from UHS, Bagalkot, Bengaluru
Campus and PhD (Hort.) Fruit Science from SAS
Nagaland University. He published12 research articles
in National and International Journals. He received Fellowship from
Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), New Delhi, entitled
Junior Research Fellowship to purse Post Graduation (2017). Senior
Research Fellowship in ICAR-SRF examination with All India 30th rank
(2019). UGC Non-Net fellowship from SAS, Nagaland University in 2020.
He received Best Poster Paper Award in Indian Horticulture Congress @
Uttar Pradesh in 2021. Young Researcher Award given by RVSKV, Gwalior,
M.P. in International Conference on One Health-One World on 28-29,
December, 2023.

Director, ICAR – IIHR, Hesaraghatta, Bengaluru. As a scientist at KVK,
he conducted many OFTs and FLDs in Horticulture apart from plant
protection too. He is a recipient of UGC – Maulana Azad National
Fellowship for pursuing PhD studies and he received Best PhD thesis award
from Society for Horticultural Research and Development, Ghaziabad. He
published 14 research articles published in National and International
Journals and he also published 8 popular articles.