loquat is very nutritious food that contain anti oxidants. Loquat is originally from southeast china, later neutralized in Japan and India. Loquat is moderate sized tree of abt 20-30 ft height.
On National Teacher Day, meet the 2024-25 Kenan Fellows
Loquat Fruit : Introduction and Importance, varieties.
1.
2. Loquat( Eriobotrya japonica)
Origin
• Originally native to Southeast China. Later introduced in Japan and India
subcontinent
• Chinese immigrants are presumed to have carried the loquat to hawaii.
BOTANICAL NAME : Eriobotrya japonica ( Japanese plum)
Eriobotrya eliptica ( Nepal loquat)
COMMON NAME : Loquat, Japanese plum, Japanese medlar, Nisperu, Yeni
Gunar ( Greece and turkey). Sometimes also called pipa(Chinese)
and biwa(Japanese)
Family : Rosaceae
Chromosome no : 2n= 34
4. Morphology
• Evergreen small tree with round crown, short trunk
• Can grow upto 20-30 ft height
• Shallow root system
Foliage
Dark green, alternate,
Simple, narrow
Fruits
Round or pear-shaped,
fleshy, orange,
Growing in cluster
Flower
White flower with 5 petals
Flowering occurs in
Autumn
(3 flushes)
5. Uses
Nutritional value:
Rich in vitamin A, minerals and anti-oxidants
Loquat are low calorie fruits that provide an array of nutrients, including
several vit B, Mg, Mn and K
Medicinal value:
Beneficial in cancer therapy.
Controls heart rate and blood
Anti-Inflammatory and Analgesic properties
Prevents Diabetes and Hyper lipidemia
Ornamental importance:
Sweet scented flower, Landscape designing
Commercial uses:
slightly immature fruits are best for making pies or tarts. The fruits are also
commonly used to make jam, jelly and chutney, and are delicious poached
in light syrup, wine.
6. Climatic and Soil requirement
• sub tropical to mild temperate climate
• Wind tolerant, altitude upto 2000m ( China and India)
• Rainfall= 1000-1200mm annually Humidity= 95%
• Optimum temperature= 20-25˚C
• Well established tree can tolerate <12˚F
• Killing temperature for flower bud= 19 ˚F
• Killing temperature for mature flower= 26 ˚F
• Killing temperature for seed= 25 ˚F
• Soil= sandy loam to heavy clay but even limestone soils with good
drainage
• Soil pH= 5.5-7 ( prefers acidic to alkaline soil)
7. Varieties
• Early( ripens from mid-march)
Golden yellow, Improved golden yellow, large round, pale-yellow, Thames
pride
Mid season ( last week of march)
Fire Ball(popular in india), Improved pale yellow, Large agra, mammoth,
matchless, safeda
• Late( from mid april)
California advance, Tanaka
8. Planting Method
• Best time = Monsoon
• Can be done in Spring if adequate irrigation facility available.
• Pits= 75cm×75cm×75cm
• Pits are left exposed for 15-20 days.
• 40-50 kg FYM and 200 gm SSP along with Aldrin dust (50 gm per pit) to
ward of termite
• Planting =Mid august or mid feburary
• System of planting= square system
• Planting density= 180-300 plants per hectare
• Distance 6-8 m
9. Propagation
• By seed ( for ornamental purpose or for rootstock)
• By air layering
• Grafting
I. Shield-budding/ side veneer
II. Cleft grafting
Training and Pruning
Central leader/ open system
Done immediately after harvest
Autumn to winter
10. Orchard Management
Irrigation
• Watered at the swelling of blossoms
• 2-3 watering should be given during harvest time
Fertilizer application
• N based fertilizer 3 times a year, producing better fruit and more foliage.
• Chicken manure is excellent source of N
• 60 kg mixture of FYM, Bone meal and wood ash in the ratio of 100:5:10 in
Oct with irrigation
• 750gm N, 300 gm P and 750 gm K per year for young plant
Intercropping
• Vegetable crops, low growing legumes crops
• Additional fertilizer may needed
• Care during intercultural operation
Intercultural operation
• Fruit thinning, mulching( conserve soil moisture), appropriate weedicide
11. Harvesting and post harvest
• Stars bearing 3-4 years after planting and give maximum yield at 15 age
• Mature at 70 days after fruit set
• If cluster matures uniformly cut whole cluster, if not harvest by clipping
Maturity Indices
• Full development of color for each cultiver is best guide
• TSS= 11%
Grading
• Color and size
• Large and fine fruits free from all defects are put in one grade and remaining in
other
Packaging
careful packing with sufficient cushion to avoid injury
Storage
Can be stored for some time in polythene bag without much spoilage if the mouth of
bags are kept open
Room temperature= 4-6 day
11˚C , 85-90% humidity =2 weeks
Yield= 15-20 kg per tree
12. Pest and disease
• Pests
1. Fruit fly
2. Bark eating catterpillers
3. Green scale
4. Aphids
5. Thrips
6. Grey weevils
7. Nematodes
Disease
1. Crown rot( Phytophthora spp)
2. Root rot( Polyporus paustis)
3. Collar rot( Sclerotium spp)
4. Die back ( Cytospora eirobotryae)
5. Leaf spot(Entomosporium spp)
6. Fire blight (Erwinia amylovora)
7. Scab (Venturia spp)
13.
14. • Physiological disorder
1. Easily bruised and scratched
2. Damaged area usually turn brown or black
3. Internal browning and brown surface spotting occur during long term or
high CO2 storage
