Fruit trees are perennial woody plant species that produce edible fruits. Fruit, as a seed container, is not only a factor in the propagation of the plant, but also a rich source of vitamins, minerals, fiber and antioxidants for humans and other animals. The study and classification of these trees based on scientific principles is important for horticultural purposes, agricultural research and economic planning.
1. Classification based on climatic adaptation
One of the main methods of classifying fruit trees is their adaptation to specific climatic conditions.
1-1. Temperate Fruit Trees
This group of trees requires a period of cold to break dormancy and produce desirable fruit.
Key Features:
Resistant to frost during the dormant season.
Requires a certain number of hours of winter cold (Chilling Requirement).
Deciduous and lose their leaves in the fall.
Examples:
Apple (Malus domestica): has many varieties, requires cold, and is a pome fruit.
Pear (Pyrus spp.): similar to apples, but with a fruit texture that is often more granular.
Peach and nectarine (Prunus persica): stone fruits with moderate cold requirements.
Cherry (Prunus avium & Prunus cerasus): very sensitive to soil and irrigation conditions; high cold requirements.
Plum (Prunus domestica): a single-seeded fruit with various varieties.
Almond (Prunus dulcis): its fruit is consumed as a dried fruit.
1-2. Subtropical Fruit Trees
These trees grow in areas with mild winters and no severe frosts.
Key Features:
Relatively sensitive to cold (temperatures close to 0 degrees Celsius can damage them).
Some species are evergreen.
Negligible or very low chilling requirements.
Examples:
Citrus spp.: Includes oranges, tangerines, limes, and lemons. Evergreen and have a hesperidium fruit.
Fig (Ficus carica): Has a unique fruit called a syconium.
Pomegranate (Punica granatum): Tolerates drought and relative soil salinity.
Persimmon (Diospyros kaki): A fruit with high tannin that decreases with ripening.
1-3. Tropical Fruit Trees
These species are completely dependent on frost-free conditions and are very sensitive to low temperatures.
Key features:
Absolutely sensitive to cold (temperatures below 5 ° C can be fatal).
Usually evergreen.
No physiological dormancy.
Examples:
Banana (Musa spp.): Herbaceous plant with a false stem, mistakenly called a tree. Its fruit is a drupe.
Mango (Mangifera indica): Shaft-shaped fruit; a long-lived, evergreen tree.
Papaya (Carica papaya): Fast-growing, herbaceous plant with fruit on the trunk.
Coconut (Cocos nucifera): Part of the palm family, a very large, hard-skinned fruit (Drupe).
2. Classification based on botanical characteristics of the fruit
In botany, fruits are classified based on structure and morphology.
Pome: Fruits whose edible part is formed by the growth of the flower receptacle (such as apples and pears).
Drupe: Fruits with an outer skin, a fleshy part, and a hard core in the center containing the seed (such as peaches, apricots, cherries, and olives).
Citrus (Hesperidium): A subfamily of the Hesperaceae with leathery skin and water-filled compartments (such as oranges and grapefruits).
Berry: Fruits with thin skin and all parts of the fruit are fleshy (such as grapes and kiwis).
Conclusion:
Fruit trees are distributed in different climates of the world with their amazing diversity. Knowledge of their taxonomy and ecological and morphological characteristics is the foundation of modern horticulture and agriculture. This knowledge is essential for selecting the right cultivar for a specific region, for optimal orchard management, and ultimately, for increasing the quantity and quality of orchard products. Future research in breeding and biotechnology will play a crucial role in developing more resistant and high-yielding cultivars.
Types of fruit trees and their characteristics
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