Department of Fruit Science Nauni,Solan (HP)

Dr JK Chauhan
Professor & Head

The department of Fruit Science has its origin in the erstwhile Department of Horticulture in the Himachal Agricultural College and Research Institute. In 1976, the department was named as Department of Pomology and Fruit Technology when a separate department of Vegetable Crops and Floriculture were carved out of it. After the establishment of Dr Y S Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, the Department of Pomology and Fruit Technology was re-organized and separate departments of Fruit Breeding & Genetic Resources and Post Harvest Technology were carved out and the parent department was named as the Department of Fruit Culture and Orchard Management later on re-named as Department of Pomology. As per ICAR nomenclature it has been named now as Department of Fruit Science.

Recently the department has been strengthened with the merger of department of Fruit Breeding and Genetic Resources into it. Ever since its establishment, the Department has provided inspiring leadership in the overall development of horticultural technologies that led Himachal Pradesh to acquire the status of ‘Apple State’ of India. This department is actively engaged in the teaching, research and extension education activities on various aspects related to orchard planning, management and production of fruit crops in the State.

Department has published more than 450 research papers in leading national and international journals, 24 books, 45 book chapters, 17 technical bulletins, and over 1225 popular articles for technology dissemination to farmers and entrepreneurs in last 20 years. Department since its inception has been able to generate useful human resources for the country in the form of 324 M.Sc. and 132 Ph.D. students.

Mandate

  • Genetic Improvement, Germplasm conservation and evaluation of Temperate Fruit Crops
  • Development of propagation and nursery management modules for multiplication of elite planting material of temperate fruit crops
  • Standardization of High Density Planting Systems, Orchard Management Practices for different temperate fruit crops and their diversification

Strengths

  • Experimental Farm Area of 42.75 hectares
  • Gene bank/ Bud-wood bank of Apple, Pear, Peach, Nectarine, Apricot, Plum, Walnut, Kiwifruit, Persimmon, Strawberry, Pomegranate and Pecan nut
  • Sale of nursery plants of all temperate fruit crops within and outside states
  • Well equipped laboratories of Molecular Breeding, Fruit Tree Nutrition, Orchard Management and Growth Regulation

Academics

The department offers degree programmes for:

  • M.Sc. (Horticulture) Fruit Science
  • Ph.D. Fruit Science
Click here for course details
  • Mr Vishal Negi qualified ICAR-Senior Research Fellowship Programme and secured overall fifth rank (2024-2025).
  • Ms Manisha Kumari qualified ICAR-Senior Research Fellowship Programme and secured overall twenty firstt rank (2024-2025) and also appointed as Block Horticulture Officer (Bihar).
  • Ms Sandhya, Ph. D scholar participated in 9th Asian Winter Games 2025 at Harbin China (7th-14th February 2025).
  • Ms Sandhya, Ph. D scholar participated at UAE Alpine Station Championship (FIS races) held at Dubai during November, 2023.
  • Dr SharmisthaNaik (H-2018-24-D) received Budding Scientist Award by Indian Society of Horticultural Research & Development for her outstanding Ph. D Thesis Research “Studies on Grape (Vitis spp.L.) diversity in Himachal Pradesh based on morphological, molecular and biochemical characteristics.” during Progressive Horticulture Conclave held at Navsari Agricultural University (Gujarat), during 18-20th January 2024.

View of High Density Plantation of apple in the Department of Fruit Science

Research

Thrust Areas

  • Genetic improvement, conservation, characterization and evaluation of temperate fruit crops
  • Mass multiplication of nursery plants and clonal rootstocks of temperate fruit crops.
  • High density planting systems, Canopy architecture, Crop regulation, Integrated nutrient and water management
  • Development of production modules in fruit crops under natural farming
  • Fruit crop diversification
  • Himachal Pradesh Horticulture Development Project (Fruit Science) funded by World Bank, through Dept. of Horticulture, Govt. of HP (₹ 1050.95 lakh; 2019 to 2024).
  • Creation of gene bank of temperate fruit crops and nursery production funded by World bank (₹ 254.10 lakhs; 2020 to 2024).
  • Development of DUS testing guidelines for Kiwi funded by (DUS) Ministry of Agriculture, GOI(₹ 19.91 lakhs; 2023 to 2024).
  • Creation of Hi-Tech infrastructure for mass multiplication of Kiwifruit funded by RKVY H.P. Government (₹36.61 lakhs; 2024 to 2025).
  • Standardization and establishment of one bigha Sustainable Farming Model under Natural Farming Practices funded by RKVY H.P. Government (₹ 11.21 lakhs; 2024 to 2025).
  • Sale of 3,19, 476 fruit plants (apple, pear, peach, plum, apricot, kiwifruit, walnut, pomegranate and persimmon) to the farmers of different agro-climatic zones of Himachal Pradesh and generated a total income of Rs. 4,16,56,700 (four crores sixteen lakhs fifty six thousand seven hundred only) during last five years.
  • Identified seventeen bud sports by conducting extensive surveys of existing apple orchards in the districts of Kullu, Mandi, Shimla, Kinnaur and Lahaul & Spiti in Himachal Pradesh. Out of these, four mutants namely DDK, TKL, DSK and PSK have been issued accession numbers by NBPGR, Pusa Campus, New Delhi on 22/12/2023.
  • Varieties in High Density Planting System were evaluated under HP-HDP World Bank funded Project. In respect of productivity and fruit quality, Jeromine (40-45 MT/ha), Red Cap Valtod (40-42 MT/ha), Scarlet Spur-II (38-40 MT/ha) and Redlum Gala (36-38 MT/ha) performed better at Nauni after five years of plantation.
  • Evaluation of planting densities was undertaken. Plant spacing of 2.5 m × 1.0 and 2.5 m × 1.5 m with a density of 4000 and 2666 trees/ha was found better in respect of fruit size, physico-chemical characteristics and quality with highest productivity (40-42 MT/ha) after five years of plantation.
  • Evaluation of different training systems was done. Among the different training system, the Tall Spindle training system performed well in respect of fruit quality and yield in comparison to other two training systems.
  • Compared tongue grafting and chip budding techniques at different heights of rootstocks in apple and found tongue grafting performed at 15 cm stock height as most suitable for higher bud take success, saleable plants and production of quality planting material.
  • Standardized the summer pruning technique for improving light interception, photosynthesis, and yield and fruit quality of apricot. 25% heading back + 25% thinning out + pinching of lateral spring growth was found to be the most optimum technique of summer pruning.
  • Standardized the method and time of notching for induction of lateral branches at desired places for canopy management and early fruiting in apple under high density plantation.
  • Creation of Gene bank/bud wood bank of temperate fruits and nursery production.
  • Department has published 76 research papers (NAAS rating > 5.00) and 13 books/manual during the year 2020-2025.

Extension

  • Conducted Vocational Certificate Course on “Nursery Production of Temperate Fruits” organized by Department of Fruit Science, UHF, Nauni under IDP-NAHEP w.e.f 12/11/2021 to 06/04/2022.
  • Organized Summer Pruning and other Summer Cultural Operations for Fruit quality Improvement in High Density Plantation of Apple w.e.f 07/06/2022 to 09/06/2022.
  • Conducted three days Farmers training programme on “Summer Pruning and other Summer Cultural Operations for Fruit Quality Improvement in High Density Plantations of Apple” organized to the Cluster Farmers of HP Horticulture Development Project w.e.f 07/06 2022 to 09/06/2022.
  • Organized seven days skill development training programme on “Propagation and Nursery management of Temperate Fruit Crops” organized to the Farmers of Sirmour, Solan and Shimla districts of Himachal Pradesh w.e.f. 13/06/2022 to 19/06/2022.
  • Organized one day training programme on Multiplication of Clonal Rootstocks through Trench and Mound Layering methods under World Bank funded HP-HDP held on 08/09/2022.
  • Organized seven days skill development training programme on “Propagation and Nursery Management of Temperate Fruit Crops” w.e.f. 03/02/2023 to 09/02/2023.
  • Organized seven days skill development training programme on “Canopy Management of Temperate Fruit Crops” under MoU signed between HPKVN and UHF, Nauni w.e.f 28/02/2023 to 06/03/2023.


Master’s Training on Canopy Management in the Department of Fruit Science



Ms Sandhya Thakur Ph D student participated in UAE Alpine Slalom Championship (FIS races) w.e.f 02.11.2022 to 09.11.2022 in Dubai organized by UAE Winter Sports

Awards/Recognitions

  • Dr. N C Sharma received Plantica Innovative Research Award- 2020 on 14.08.2020 from Plantica Foundation for innovative research “Effect of conjoint bio-organic and inorganic nutrient sources on plant growth, leaf nutrient content and soil properties of Peach (Prunus persica)” done in the field of Horticulture by S P S Solanki, Naveen C. Sharma, J S Chandel and Pramod Kumar.
  • Dr Pramod Sharma received Plantica Innovative Research Award- 2020 in the field of horticulture for the research entitled “Effect of conjoint bio-organic and inorganic nutrient sources on plant growth, leaf nutrient content and soil properties of peach (Prunus persica) by ‘Association of Plant Science Researchers’, Plantica Foundation, Dehradun (UK)on 14.08.2020.
  • Dr R K Dogra was awarded with Uma Datt Mamgain Memorial Research Award 2021 by Society for Advancement of Human and Nature (SADHANA), Dr. Y. S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan(H.P.) for best M.Sc. Thesis (Mr. Ayush Gupta).
  • Dr R K Dogra got the best poster presentation award for poster on variation in fruit quality characters in clonal population of sand pears. In XV Agricultural Science Congress was organized by National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS)in collaboration with Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi held on 13th to 16th, November, 2021.
    • Dr. N C Sharma received International Outstanding Innovation Award for the Research and Excellence in Horticulture (Fruit Science) from International Society for Scientific Network during International Science and Technology awards and Congress on 3rd November, 2022.
    • Dr Pramod Sharma awarded by the Hon’ble Minister of State for Forest, Transport and Youth and Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor of YSPUHF, Nauni, Solan, HPfor ‘Excellence in Service’.
    • Dr Pramod Sharma conferred with NESA Eminent Scientist Award (2021) by National Environmental Science Academy, New Delhi.
    • Dr. N C Sharma received National Best Scientific Researcher of the year award from Avishkar Foundation, Solapur on 5th September, 2022.
    • Dr Pramod Sharma selected as Travel Grantee byFederation of European Microbiological Societies (FEMS) for XIII Congress of Microbiologists on theme ‘From Biotechnology to Human and Planetary Health’ organized by Serbian Society for Microbiology Belgrade, Serbia.
    • Dr Meena Kumari received certificate of first place in the scientific article writing competition from Trends in Agriculture Science on 30th December, 2024.
    • Dr Vishal Rana participated in International training -cum-faculty visit to Hi-tech lake Lucas Almond Pvt. Limited, Australia under IDP-NAHEP, ICAR project w.e.f. 14/03/2023 to 31/03/2023.
    • Dr Pramod Kumar has visited University of Belgrade for the participation in international training cum exposure on Plant-Microbial Interactions for smart farming and sustainable crop resilience w.e.f. 14th September to 5th October,2024.
    • Dr C L Sharma has visited The Institute of Agrfoestry, College of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Philippines, Los Banos College, LAGUNA Phillipines for understanding the soil conservation measures and water management systems in uphill agriculture for sustainable farming adopted in the Phillipines w.e.f.1st October to 15th October, 2023.
    • Dr R K Dogra has visited Western Study University, Australia for collaboration in terms of student and faculty exchange programmes, and extension to develop long-term collaboration between Dr. YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan and Western Sydney University. W.e.f.13th December to 22nd December, 2023.
    • Dr N C Sharma has visited Western Study University, Australia for collaboration in terms of student and faculty exchange programmes, and extension to develop long-term collaboration between Dr. YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan and Western Sydney University. W.e.f.13th December to 22nd December, 2023.

Facilities

  • Well equipped Molecular Laboratory
  • Department has Advanced Laboratories equipped with latest versions of equipments:
  • ICP for estimation of macro, micro and heavy metals
  • Infra Red Gas Analyser (IRGA) for estimation of physiological parameters
  • Canopy Analyser
  • Root Scanner
  • Leaf Area Meter
  • Spectrophotometer
  • Soil moisture meter

Gallery

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