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      • Trusted Partner
        Biology, life sciences
        January 2022

        Concepts for Understanding Fruit Trees

        by Theodore M. DeJong

        Anyone who observes fruit trees may wonder how or why they behave in specific ways. Some trees grow upright whilst others are more spreading in habit. Some produce many flowers and small immature fruit only to drop most of the fruit later on; others grow more on their sunny side than their shady side. It is common to ascribe such behavior to the tree as a whole and state that trees preferentially "allocate" resources to specific organs. However, this is the wrong approach to understanding tree functioning and behavior. Trees are not in control of what they do. What trees do and how they function is shaped by the individual organs that make up the tree, not by the tree as a whole. The genetic code only indirectly determines the habit, structure and behavior of a tree by defining the behavioral and functional limits of the component organs, tissues and cells. Unlike animals that have a mechanism for collective control of the whole organism - a central nervous system - trees (and plants in general) are more appropriately considered as collections of semi-autonomous organs. These organs are dependent on one another for resources, such as water, energy and nutrients, but control their own destiny. This book presents a clear set of integrative concepts for understanding the overall physiology and growth of temperate deciduous fruit trees. The emphasis is on overarching principles rather than detailed descriptions of tree physiology or differences among the numerous species of fruit trees. Although the focus is on deciduous fruit trees many aspects apply to evergreen fruit trees and trees that grow naturally in unmanaged situations. Highly relevant for students and researchers in pomology, horticulture and plant sciences, the book is also suitable for practitioners, extension staff, and novice fruit tree growers.

      • Trusted Partner
        September 2020

        Manual on Postharvest Handling of Mediterranean Tree Fruits and Nuts

        by Carlos H. Crisosto, Gayle M. Crisosto

        Postharvest is an important element of getting fresh, high quality fruit to the consumer and technological advances continue to outpace infrastructure. This book provides valuable, up-to-date information on postharvest handling of seven fruit and nut crops: almonds, figs, table grapes, pistachio, persimmon, peach and pomegranate. These crops are of particular importance in the Mediterranean region, but also to those countries that export and import these crops, where intensive economic resources are dedicated to developing information to understand and solve their postharvest problems. Written by a team of internationally-recognised postharvest experts, this manual collates and verifies essential but often difficult to access information on these important crops, pertinent for the World economics that affect agricultural communities. The book - Covers relevant postharvest topics for each crop across the growing, packing, shipping and retail postharvest phases - Has an emphasis on knowledge useful to solve current worldwide industry problems - Includes practical recommendations - Makes available information previously published in other languages This is must-have manual for growers and commodity handlers, cold storage managers, transportation personnel, produce managers and retail handlers, or anyone in the food chain that packs, transports, stores and sells these fruits and nuts.

      • Trusted Partner
        Horticulture
        November 2010

        Tropical Fruits, Volume 1

        by Robert E Paull, Odilo Duarte

        The first of two volumes, this book covers major tropical fruits such as avocado, litchi, mango, papaya and pineapple. Early chapters describe the tropics and its soils and deal with key issues such as tree management and postharvest handling, updated and expanded to include best handling practices and food safety issues and the way to address these issues in marketing. Following these are self-contained chapters on single fruits which provide in-depth studies of botany, areas of origin and distribution, descriptions of ecological requirements and world production and utilization of each fruit. Propagation & cultural practices from ancient to modern are described to show the regional differences that environmental and biological pressures exert on fruit production and fruit quality. Tropical Fruits is essential reading for students and teachers of horticulture as well as horticultural industry personnel and policy-makers.

      • Trusted Partner
        December 2021

        Enzymes in Farm Animal Nutrition

        by Michael R Bedford, Gary G Partridge, Carrie Walk, Milan Hruby, Ceinwen Evans, Hamish Irving, Jari Vehmanperä, Kari Juntunen, John Patience, Qingyun Li, Amy Petry, Jason Lee, Kyle Brown, Aaron Cowieson, Daniel Menezes-Blackburn, Ralf Greiner, Ursula Konietzny

        From alpha-galactosidases to xylanases, Enzymes in Farm Animal Nutrition provides a comprehensive guide to all aspects associated with enzyme-supplemented animal feeds. It details the history and size of the feed enzyme market, before describing how feed enzymes are manufactured and employed in monogastric, aqua and ruminant diets. This new edition explores considerable advances such as the use of enzymes in fish and shrimp diets, new understanding of how phytases function in the animal, NSPase research and enzymes' extended use in ruminant markets. It also: - Provides comprehensive coverage of all topics relating to the production, use, and co-operativity and analysis of feed enzymes; - Is fully updated throughout, revealing significant developments such as new methods to deliver enzymes (formulations, encapsulations, and liquid spray systems) and advances in enzyme analysis; - Includes brand new chapters on combinations of enzymes, antibiotic free diets and how to measure response in feed enzyme trials. Covering biochemistry, enzymology and characteristics relevant to animal feed use, this book forms a valuable resource for academics and students of animal nutrition and production, as well as professionals in the animal feed industry.

      • Trusted Partner
        Zoology & animal sciences
        May 2021

        Nutrition and Feeding Organic Cattle

        by Robert Blair

        Organic cattle farming is on the increase, with consumer demand for organic milk and meat growing yearly. Beginning with an overview of the aims and principles behind organic cattle production, this book presents extensive information about how to feed cattle so that the milk and meat produced meet organic standards, and provides a comprehensive summary of ruminant digestive processes and nutrition. Since the publication of the first edition, global consumers have increasingly become concerned with the sustainability of meat production. Here, Robert Blair considers the interrelationships of sustainable practices and profitability of organic herds, reviewing how to improve forage production and quality, and minimizing the need for supplementary feeding using off-farm ingredients. This new edition also covers: - Managing a recurrent shortage of organic feed ingredients, due to increased GM feed crop cultivation worldwide - Current findings on appropriate breeds and grazing systems for forage-based organic production - Diet-related health issues in organic herds and the effects of organic production on meat and milk quality. Required reading for animal science researchers, advisory personnel that service the organic milk and beef industries and students interested in organic milk and meat production, this book is also a useful resource for organic farming associations, veterinarians, and feed and food industry personnel.

      • Trusted Partner
        August 2022

        Gac Fruit: Advances in Cultivation, Utilisation, Health Benefits and Processing Technologies

        by Minh Nguyen, Tuyen Chan Kha

        Gac fruit, Momordica cochinchinensis Spreng, is rich in nutrients such as carotenoids (particularly beta-carotene and lycopene), fatty acids, vitamin E, polyphenol compounds and flavonoids. This book provides the latest research on this fruit, from cultivation through to processing technologies for health products. It addresses several techniques on propagation and cultivation in order to increase the production and quality of Gac fruit, including traditionally used parts of the fruit (aril) and those whose value has not yet been maximized (peel, pulp and seed). This plant has the potential to be a high value crop, particularly as parts of the fruit can be processed into nutrient supplements and/or natural colorants. It has an exceptional potential in the world carotenoids market of about US$ 1.4 billion (2017), which will be growing steadily, up to US$ 6.9 billion by 2026. As such, this book contains special emphasis on: · Improving production of Gac fruit · Novel extraction of Gac oil rich in beta-carotene and lycopene from aril and peel. · Encapsulation of Gac oil rich in beta-carotene and lycopene. Practical applied technologies such as microwave drying, heat pump drying, freeze drying, ultrasound assisted extraction, supercritical CO2 extraction, encapsulation techniquesare all presented. This is an essential reference text for academics, researchers and graduate students in cultivation, food processing, science and nutrition. Product developers in health food areas in the food industry will also find it valuable.

      • Trusted Partner
        Technology, Engineering & Agriculture
        September 2023

        The Olive

        Botany and Production

        by Andrea Fabbri, Luciana Baldoni, Tiziano Caruso, Franco Famiani, Giovanni Agosteo, Barbera Giuseppe, Angjelina Belaj, Antonio Belcari, Karim Barkaoui, Giora Ben-Ari, Alon Ben-Gal, Giovanni Benelli, Rita Biasi, Iris Biton, Konstantinos Blazakis, Aureliano Bombarely, Antonio Brunori, Santa Olga Cacciola, Angelo Canale, Giovanni Caruso, Tiziano Caruso, Nicola Cinosi, Arnon Dag, Ran Erel, Daniela Farinelli, Louise Ferguson, Tommaso Ganino, Jesus A Gil-Ribes, Calero José Alfonso Gómez, Riccardo Gucci, Consolación Guerrero, Panagiotis Kalaitzis, Maurizio Lambardi, Lauri Pierre-Eric, Lorenzo León, Bianco Riccardo Lo, Enrico Maria Lodolini, Francisco Luque, Hanene Mairech, Picchi Malayka, Giulia Marino, Roberto Mariotti, Francesco Paolo Marra, G Medina-Alonso, José A Mercado, Maurizio Micheli, Soraya Mousavi, Monji Msallem, Dvora Namdar, Isabel Narváez, Elena Palomo-Ríos, Ruggero Petacchi, Pierluigi Pierantozzi, Malayka Samantha Picchi, Amalia Rosa Maria Piscopo, Fernando Pliego-Alfaro, Primo P

        The European or Mediterranean cultivated olive (Olea europaea L., subsp. europaea, var. europaea) is one of the most ancient cultivated fruit tree crops. Today, hundreds of olive varieties are grown to produce high-quality fruit for oil and for table olives consumption. The olive industry has undergone profound innovations in the past 30 years, due to scientific and technical advances, particularly in genomics, breeding, orchard management, mechanization and agro-ecology, although not all these developments are yet available to smaller producers. Olive cultivation has also spread to many countries outside the Mediterranean Basin, where it ihas been traditionally present for over 6,000 years. These new olive-growing countries are experiencing further expansion of the industry, due to increased awareness of the nutritional and health properties of extra virgin olive oil. This book is a much-needed update on olive biology and cultivation, with contributions from leading international experts, and includes: Biology Genetics and breeding Olive propagation and nursery Planting new olive orchards Horticultural management of olive orchards Plant protection Olive by-products (wood, leaves) Multifunctionality of olive groves and ecosystem services The Olive: Botany and Production is invaluable for researchers and students in horticulture and agriculture, as well as producers involved in olive orchard management.

      • Trusted Partner
        Technology, Engineering & Agriculture
        May 2022

        Advances in Fig Research and Sustainable Production

        by Moshe A Flaishman, Uygun Aksoy

        The common fig (Ficus carica L.) is one of the oldest fruits domesticated by humans, and is native to southwest Asia and the Mediterranean. Figs have been associated with health and prosperity since ancient times. They are rich in fibre, potassium, calcium, and iron, as well as being an important source of vitamins, amino acids, and antioxidants. In recent years, increased consumption has caused fig production to shift to new countries such as Mexico, Brazil, India, and China. However, fig is a challenging fruit crop to grow. It is susceptible to insect pests and diseases as well as injuries from abiotic stress during fruit development and ripening. As a delicate fruit it also requires complicated postharvest procedures and climate change presents additional challenges. Comprising 29 chapters written by international experts, the book includes sections on: History Biology and Orchard Management Fruit Ripening and Postharvest Management Pests and Diseases Omics Analysis Cultivars and Breeding Products and Trade. This volume serves as a comprehensive reference for current and future practices of fig production, consumption, research and innovation, and is essential for academic researchers, and those involved in research and development in the fig industry.

      • Trusted Partner
        April 2024

        Dragon Fruit

        Botany, Production and Uses

        by Sisir Mitra, Nigel P. Taylor, Pradyot K. Pathak, Kundan Kishore, Ankita Sahu, Prinya Wongsa, Taner Bozkurt, Özhan Simsek, Joanna Cho Lee Ying, Phebe Ding, Long Haibo, Tang Liangde, Li Huadong, Hamide Gubbuk, Recep Balkic, Lokman Altinkaya, Leila Aparecida Salles Pio, Renato Paiva, Mai Van Tri, Dinh Thi Yen Phuong

        Dragon fruit (pitaya) is a perennial climbing cactus, native to the tropical areas of North, Central and South America. It is suited to tropical and subtropical regions and is commercially grown in an increasing number of countries, including Israel, Australia and the USA. Dragon fruit generates considerable consumer interest because of its exotic appearance and potential health benefits. The fruit is rich in nutrients and phytochemical compounds. It can be eaten fresh or used in the preparation of juices, jellies, jams, etc. The natural bioactive compounds in pitaya have the potential to be exploited in food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. Increasingly cultivated worldwide, the plant is drought-resistant, easily adapts to light intensity and high temperatures, and has a tolerance to a wide range of soil salinities. With ongoing global warming, dragon fruit has great potential as a new crop for many more countries. This book is a compilation of the current state of knowledge on dragon fruit physiology, cultivation, production technology, postharvest management and processing, and is written by leading international authors.

      • Trusted Partner
        October 2022

        Loquat

        Botany, Production and Uses

        by Sisir Mitra, A Aytekin Polat, Manuel Agustí, Josep Armengol, Maria Luisa Badenes, Manuel Blasco, Julián Cuevas González, Vittorio Farina, Elisa González-Dominguez, Qigao Guo, Liang Guolu, Juan José Hueso, Yuanyuan Jiang, Francisco Legaz, Hailan Lin, Shoukai Lin, Dahe Lin, Shunquan Lin, Shiwei Ma, Belén Martínez-Alcántara, Amparo Martínez-Fuentes, Carlos Mesejo, Julia Morales, Ana Quiñones, Carmina Reig, Esteban Soler, Jincheng Wu, Bisha Wu, Xianghui Yang, Peng Ze, Lifen Zhang

        Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.) is a subtropical evergreen fruit tree indigenous to China. Records show it has been cultivated in China for over 2000 years. From this beginning, loquat has spread to more than 30 countries around the world. Grown in various regions of Asia, the Mediterranean and across the Americas, loquats suit both temperate and subtropical areas, sharing the same environmental conditions as citrus. Loquat is an increasingly commercial crop in some Asian and European countries with a good amount of international trade. Recent research has focused on improving crop yields and quality. Over 100 different varieties have been developed to meet both growers' and consumers' demands. These developments have contributed to a better understanding of the crop environment, plant growth and physiology of tree and fruit development with implications for both breeding and cultivation. This book is to be the first to provide a comprehensive coverage of the history, physiology, culture and marketing of loquat throughout the world.

      • Trusted Partner
        July 2023

        An Interprofessional Approach to Veterinary Nutrition

        by Rachel Lumbis, Tierney Kinnison

        In veterinary practice, the interface between veterinarians, veterinary nurses or technicians, and paraprofessional team members is crucial. It influences patient care, the incidence of medical errors, client satisfaction, the success of the veterinary practice and revenue generation. Ensuring a coherent approach to the maintenance of the animal health and wellbeing is of paramount importance, yet challenges such as interprofessional prejudice, contrasting motivations, and a lack of recognition, respect, empowerment or trust, can prevent best practice. Nutrition is one of the most important considerations in the maintenance of health, and plays a critical role in disease management, patient recovery and hospital outcome. Owners are increasingly aware of nutrition's role in optimising pet health, yet considerable misinformation can make this one of the most difficult aspects of pet ownership. Playing a central role as a source of expert information, the veterinary healthcare team must rise to the challenge of optimising pet nutrition. This book: - Provides evidence-based theory in an accessible and practical way to help veterinary healthcare teams implement interprofessional approaches to nutritional care and support; - Demonstrates how robust interprofessional practice and teamwork help to overcome challenges; - Emphasises collaborative working across the healthcare team. With effective interprofessional communication and collaboration considered a key factor in the successful implementation of nutritional assessment, forming a positive team environment founded on respect, trust and mutual support helps to overcome challenges and provide the best outcome for both pets and their owners.

      • Trusted Partner
        Technology, Engineering & Agriculture
        September 2020

        The Pomegranate

        Botany, Production and Uses

        by Ali Sarkhosh, Alimohammad Yavari, Zabihollah Zamani

        The pomegranate, Punica granatum L., is one of the oldest known edible fruits and is associated with ancient civilizations of the Middle East. This is the first comprehensive book covering the botany, production, processing, health, and industrial uses of pomegranate. The cultivation of this fruit for fresh consumption, juice production and medicinal purposes has expanded more than tenfold over the past twenty years. Presenting a review of pomegranate growing from a scientific and horticultural perspective, the book provides information to increase yields and improve short- and medium-term grower profitability and sustainability. It covers: practices to mitigate pests, diseases and abiotic stresses yield based nutrition management cultural practices for cultivars with horticultural traits such as earliness, high yield, improved taste, soft seeds, disease resistance, and low splitting and sunscald rates increasing crop diversity to aid crop security composition, food uses and medicinal uses This book is essential literature for researchers in horticulture, growers, and those involved in the pomegranate industry.

      • Trusted Partner
        Business, Economics & Law
        October 2004

        Qualities of food

        by Mark Harvey, Andrew McMeekin, Alan Warde

        In this book, the complexity and the significance of the foods we eat are analysed from a variety of perspectives, by sociologists, economists, geographers and anthropologists. Chapters address a number of intriguing questions: how do people make judgments about taste? How do such judgments come to be shared by groups of people?; what social and organisational processes result in foods being certified as of decent or proper quality? How has dissatisfaction with the food system been expressed? What alternatives are thought to be possible? The multi-disciplinary analysis of this book explores many different answers to such questions. The first part of the book focuses on theoretical and conceptual issues, the second part considers processes of formal and informal regulation, while the third part examines social and political responses to industrialised food production and mass consumption. Qualities of food will be of interest to researchers and students in all the social science disciplines that are concerned with food, whether marketing, sociology, cultural studies, anthropology, human nutrition or economics.

      • Trusted Partner
        Medicine
        May 2023

        Evidence Based Equine Nutrition

        A Practical Approach For Professionals

        by Teresa Hollands, Lizzie Drury

        This book uniquely provides both the scientific basis of equine nutrition and the translation of that science into practical, day-to-day feeding advice. It summarises the latest research to provide readers with the evidence base needed to both confidently advise those who want to understand the science behind equine nutrition, and apply that evidence into practical advice for anyone who just wants to know how to feed horses. Both veterinary and animal science courses struggle to provide adequate nutrition training within their syllabuses. Much of the general information available is poorly explained and not evidence based. This book fills that gap, with the author team relaying over 50 cumulative years' experience teaching equine nutrition to both practising clinicians and students. Find answers to the most common queries and challenges encountered during nutritional consultations across 17 informative chapters, using typical case-based examples as experienced by the authors. Fully supported throughout with visual aids and photographic illustrations, they show how to easily increase compliance and understanding. Key topics covered include: How to take a diet history, including which forage and concentrates are most appropriate, and how to interpret the information on feed labels; How to take the horse's history, including workload, body weight and body fat scoring; Supporting achievable and sustainable fat loss in overweight horses; Appropriate rations across a range of performance disciplines and for breeding horses; Appropriate feeds and supplements for competition, including how to recognise potential hazards, signs of quality and issues of feed safety; How to use ration programmes, including a range of frequently asked questions for horses with specific nutritional requirements from allergies to obesity. A recommended resource to support the teaching of veterinary nutrition, this book should also be found on the bookshelf of all veterinarians, animal scientists, trainers, nutritionists, and nutritional advisors. This book includes forewords by Carl Lester, Honorary Fellow of the British Horse Society and recipient of an MBE for his services to Equestrianism, and Tim Mair, former President of the British Equine Veterinary Association.

      • Trusted Partner
        Medicine
        September 2023

        The Encyclopedia of Animal Nutrition

        by Clive J C Phillips

        The Encyclopedia of Animal Nutrition covers animal nutrition across a wide range of disciplines, including physiology, biochemistry, veterinary medicine and feed technology. Through approximately 3000 entries ranging from short definitions to more discursive articles, it discusses and illuminates on all aspects of this important topic. The book: - Covers every type of animal managed in developing and developed countries, from livestock and companion animals to those commonly found in laboratories and zoos; - Expands usual definitions of 'livestock' to include farmed invertebrates such as honey bees and prawns, and animals of localised significance such as yaks, snakes, crocodiles, and asses; - Addresses important societal topics in relation to nutrition, including welfare, environmental pollution, disease, resource use, and animal product quality. Written by a global team of contributors and expert section editors, this book is an important resource for researchers, students and advisers of animal nutrition, as well as anyone interested in agriculture, veterinary science, zoology, physiology, equine science, and animal behaviour.

      • Trusted Partner
        May 2022

        Mineral Nutrition Of Livestock 5th Edition

        by Neville Suttle

        The fifth edition of this important book reviews recent advances in livestock mineral nutrition, updated throughout with new references that reflect the growing complexity of mineral metabolism. Major related themes covered include the assessment of the 'mineral value' of feeds, the false hopes placed on organic mineral supplements and limiting the 'mineral footprint' of livestock production to lower environmental pollution. Also discussed are new developments and concepts including: Salt tolerance and optimizing production in salt-rich environments. Use of phytase rather than phosphate supplements in pig and poultry rations. Demineralization of the skeleton during confinement. Recognition of sub-acute, clinical hypocalcaemia as a disorder in dairy cows. The assay of 'free' plasma B12 to assess cobalt status of cattle. Limitations of cell culture and ligated loop techniques for assessing bioavailability. Following a clear and easy to reference structure, the book also considers potential pitfalls, such as misleading estimates of mineral requirements for growth, and misinterpretation of genomic markers for mineral requirements and bioavailability of supplements. An essential resource for researchers and students in animal nutrition, agriculture and veterinary medicine, this book also forms a useful reference for veterinary practitioners and those concerned with human nutrition and environmental protection.

      • Trusted Partner
        Forestry & related industries
        December 2007

        Indigenous Fruit Trees in the Tropics

        Domestication, Utillization and Commercialization

        by Edited by Festus K Akinnifesi, Roger RB Leakey, Oluyede C Ajayi, Gudeta Sileshi, Zac Tchoundjeu, Patrick Matacala, Freddie R Kwesiga

        It has been recognized that an important factor in improving the viability of rural livelihoods in developing countries is the promotion of sustainable agriculture. As opposed to relying solely on cash crops, this can be more easily achieved through the domestication of various indigenous fruit trees that can be cultivated and owned by smallholder farmers. Through multi-functional and integrated farming systems, these tree crops can support environmental and social sustainability by providing food as well as promoting economic growth. Twenty years ago, little was known about the biology, ecology or the social impact of indigenous fruit trees on rural populations. Since then, new concepts and approaches have been developed, case studies have been produced and the potential and feasibility of their domestication and commercialization has been explored. This focused study on the tropics brings together a comprehensive review of this research.

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