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Objective: Development of RTS beverage from seasonal fruits.
Material required
Fruit, juicer-mixer-grinder, preservatives, sugar, refractometer, pan and knife etc.
Principle
Ready To Serve(RTS): This a type of fruit beverage which contain at least 10% fruit juice and 10% total soluble solid besides about 0.3% acid. This is not diluted before serving.
Before undertaking the preparation of beverage, it is necessary to know techniques of extraction of pulp/juice from various fruits used for RTS.

Pomology: Pomology is a branch of horticulture that deals with the cultivation of fruit crops. When given a liberal and flexible translation, the word “pomology” means the science of fruit. The term is derived from the Latin word pomum, which means “Fruit” and the Greek term logy, which means “Science.

Fruit

“A true botanical fruit is defined as a mature or ripened ovary with or without accessory organs.” Classifcation refers to the grouping of individuals with similar identities, related in genetic make up, evolution or climatic requirements. The major units of classification are order, family, genus, sub family, species, variety/cultivars and clone or strain. All fruit crops bear flower and seed (spermatophyte) and belongs to class Angiosperm except in (Pinus gerardiana) of gymnosperm.

Most of the fruits are covered under the dicotyledonous families of Angiosperm except banana, pineapple, date and coconut which belong to monocotyledonous families e.g. Musaceae, Bromeliaceae and Arecaceae (Palmae) respectively. The families of economically important fruits include Rosaceae (all pome, stone fruits and strawberry), Rutaceae (citrus fruits, bael and woodapple), Musaceae (banana and plantain), Vitaceae (grapes and Anacardiaceae (Mango, cashew and pistachio nut, hog plum) etc.

Fertilizer Requirement of Fruit Trees

Fertilizer requirement of the tree is determined by visual assessment of deficiencies soil nutrient status and plant tissue nutrient status. Among these methods, tissue nutrient analysis is gaining importance primariarily due to fact that it assesses the effective amount of nutrient utilized by the plant. It also detects the hidden deficiency of the nutrient before the symptoms appears on the tree. Standardised tissue nutrient norms for various elements are available for different crops.

Maturity (commercial or horticultural): Refers to the stage at which the produce is optimally accepted to the consumer.

Maturity index: The maturity at harvest determines the quality and postharvest shelf-life of the fresh fruits. The study of maturity indices helps to harvest the crop at right time.

Judging maturity: There are various means of judging maturity but they vary according to the kind of fruits, local soil and climatic conditions, but generally farmers follow visual means (appearance). But this is not a perfect method, many a times it may mislead the farmers.

Fruit crops are mostly composite plants consisting of scion and rootstock, except banana, papaya, and strawberry. Rootstock exhibits a great influence on the performance of a scion in terms of production efficiency, yields, quality, adoptability, and resistance against biotic and abiotic stresses. The primary function of a rootstock is to provide anchorage or support to the scion by growing deep into the soil and also regulating the uptake of moisture and nutrients. The rootstock cannot be changed during the life-time of a plant, so it makes it inevitable to pay more focused attention to it because its functions are long-term and complex.

Introduction

Aonla or Indian gooseberry (Emblica officinalis Gaertn. Syn. Phyllanthus emblica) is one of the important indigenous fruits of the Indian subcontinent. Most of the xerophytes are members of the Euphorbiaceae.

The tropics are evergreen, while the subtropics are deciduous. The highest concentration of vitamin C in aonla is found in mature fruit rather than immature fruit. The special attribute is its capacity to retain vitamin C even in a dried stage, which is not possible in other fruits.

Aonla contains six seeds per fruit, and in it is found zygotic dormancy. Flowers are borne in the axils of the leaves on determinate shoots.

Introduction

It is a subtropical, evergreen fruit tree. Its trees can be short-spreading and fairly bushy or grow erect to a height of 20 m. Tree demand for this fruit has been increasing over the past few years in many countries. It has become an important fruit in international trade. Mexico, Colombia, Dominic Rep, Peru, Indonesia, South America and South Africa are the major producers of avocado. In India, it is grown as a backyard tree and is found in small pockets on the hill slopes of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka and Maharashtra. Composition and uses: One of the most nutritious fruits, rich in fat, protein, and minerals and low in carbohydrates, is the avocado. It can be safely eaten by diabetics. Fruit is used as a dessert in salads, ice creams, and milk shakes.

Immature fruits may have a bitter flavour that may be reduced on ripening; the peel of avocado has 3 antifungal compounds. Its energy value is twice as much as banana fruit. Rich in fat 26.4% and low sugar 1% content and rich in K, Fe, Vitamin B, As the sugar content is low, it can be recommended as a high-energy food for diabetics. Fruit is a rich source of oil, ranging from 5–20% used for the cosmetics industry.

Introduction

The West Indian Cherry is a very important fruit because of its high ascorbic acid content (10-33g/kg edible pulp). It is widely distributed throughout tropical America, Africa and the West Indies. It is also called Acerola, Cereza in Puerto Rico, Barbados cherry in Florida and Texas. Leading producer’s countries of cherry are Turkey, USA, Chile, Uzbekistan and Iran. The plant is ornamental and when laden with clusters of its crimson fruits, presents a very attractive appearance. It is a medium-sized shrub and can serve as an ornamental tree on account of its fruits, flowers, foliage and drooping branches. Eating one or two fruits every morning will meet the daily requirement of vitamin C. This is a small shrub or small-sized tree growing up to 8.0 m in height and doing well in a tropical climate. The flowering seasons are May and November.

Introduction

The ber is a vigorous-growing, small-spreading tree with almost vinelike drooping branches. The round to oval reddish brown has 5.4–8.0% sugar and 85–95 mg of ascorbic acid (Vit. C) per 100g. The tree is a host plant for rearing lac insect (Tachardia lacca). Lac insect rearing helps in the production of lac. The powder of ber roots has very many medicinal properties, such as cure for ulcer, fevers and wounds. The stem bark powder is a remedy for diarrhea. Ber also shows strong self-incompatibility (gametophytic). Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Chhattisgarh is a leading state in “ber” production.

Introduction

Breadfruit has long been an important staple crop and a primary component of traditional agroforestry systems in the Pacific, where numerous varieties are grown. Breadfruit was first domesticated in the western Pacific and has been spread by humans throughout the region over the past 3,000–4,000 years. From

Melanesia to Micronesia to Polynesia, many islanders grow and use breadfruit as part of their daily diet. Breadfruit has a significant and often unappreciated legacy in Hawai. It is one of the canoe plants brought from the society Islands centuries ago, and the variety they brought, known simply as ‘Ulu (same as the

Hawaii a word for breadfruit), was widely grown throughout the archipelago.

Introduction

Sweet form sugar: Glucose, 0.16% oxalic acid 0.06% malic acid. The fruits are attractive, golden-yellow in colour. Bilimbi (Averrhoa bilimbi L.) ‘Cucumber tree’and ‘Tree Sorrel’are synonyms of bilimbi. Its produced gherkin. It is also known as five-corner fruit or five-edge fruit. Malaysia, Popular in China, Taiwan, Malaysia, Thailand, Pakistan, Indonesia and India. Carambola is a good source of vitamin A, B, and C, minerals, especially Fe, K, Mg and P. The composition of fruit is 75 to 80% pulp, 5 to 7% total soluble solids, 9.4% carbohydrates, 0.4% protein, 0.5 to 1.0% acidity, 0.9% fibre, 570 to 700 IU of vitamin A and 0.3 to 0.5% minerals. It is used as a dessert fruit or for preparing juice, jam, jelly and pickles. It has medicinal value also. Ground leaves and shoots for chicken pox, root extract as an antidote for poisoning and pulp of immature fruits for cleaning brassware. It is used as an alternative to tamarind in cooking.

Introduction

An herb known as priyal is a drug of the Ayurveda and the Unani system of medicine. It is known to have tonic, cardiotonic, and astringent properties and is also used in the treatment of skin diseases. It is commonly known as Chironji. It is a commercially useful tropical plant. The Chironji tree is a medium-sized evergreen deciduous tree, growing 50 ft tall. It bears fruits, each containing a single seed, which is a popular edible nut, known as chironji. It is common in India, mostly in eroded land. This tree is distributed in the states of Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and also commonly found in Uttar Pradesh.

Introduction

Pitaya also known as Dragon Fruit is a superfruit indigenous to central and South America that is grown all over the world. It has a faint, sweet taste much like an earthy watermelon. It’s a fast growing crop and the plant as can have produced for more than seven to eight years. The fruit of this plant having red skin covered with large scale and white or pinkflesh contains some black seeds. It can be used in jams, ice creams, jelly production, fruit juice, and wine. This fruit is famous in Thailand, Vietnam, Israel and Sri Lanka. This fruit cultivation is excellent in regions where less rainfall is expected. This fruit plant is treated as an ornamental plant as well as a fruit producing plant. Dragon fruit contains 73.9 kcal, 1 g protein, 0 g fat, 0.5 g fiber, 23 g carbohydrates, 23 g sugar, calcium 30 mg. 10.9 mg sodium and 1.79 mg vitamin C. Dragon fruit is consumed as a fresh fruit or can be used in jams, ice cream, jelly production, fruit juice and wine. This fruit is also used in face packs.

Introduction

The durian is an important fruit in several parts of the tropics and is the famous fruit of the far East, where it is widely cultivated throughout Malaysia. It is indigenous to Malaysia, i.e., South East Asia, and is distributed in Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, Kampuchia, Myanmar, India, and Sri Lanka. The term durio is the Malaysian word duri-thorn, and zibethinus is the Italian word for “zibetho,” meaning “strong-smelling. Thus, this is a fruit characterised by a greenish, hard, thick rind on the outside and a yellowish, sweet flesh with a strong odour. The fruits are nothing but seeds covered with a cotton-like fibre.

Introduction

Grapes are a delicious, refreshing, and nourishing fruit. It was introduced into India by the in values of Iran and Afghanistan. 50% of the total production of fruits in the world is contributed by grapes. Cultivation of grapes is called “viticulture”. Easily digestible and rich in energy-giving sugars, certain minerals and vitamins. Grape juice is a refreshing drink a stimulant to kidenys and laxactive. In India, 80% of the production is used for table purposes, 10% for raisins and 10% for wine production, while in western countries 80% is used for winery, 10% for raisins, and 10% for table purposes. The area of the same is increasing fast in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Mizorum, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh are grape growing.