Plum (Prunus salicina) is an important temperate fruit which is used both as fresh and in preserved form. Of the stone fruits, it ranks next to the peaches in economic importance. Two types of plum—European (P. domestica) and Japanese (P. salicina) were introduced during 1870 in Himachal Pradesh. After evaluation, only Japanese plum has been recommended for commercial cultivation in the temperate regions of the north-western Himalayas. Now it is predominantly grown in Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and hills of Uttar Pradesh, and also to some extent in Nilgiri hills of south India.
Climate and Soil
Plum requires varying types of climates. It is grown from subtropical plains to the temperate high hills. European plums thrive best at 1,300–2,000m above mean sea-level. They require about 1,000–1,200hr below 7°C during winter to break rest period, whereas Japanese plums require 700–1,000hr chilling, which is met in midhill areas located at an elevation of 1,000–16,000m. Plums bloom early in the season thus they are prone to frost injury. The areas with frost-free spring, having good air drainage and adequate sunshine in summer are most-suited for plum cultivation. Northern slopes are generally preferred because bloom is delayed which helps the trees to escape spring frost injury. A gentle slope is preferable rather than an enclosed plain area to ensure adequate air and water drainage. For good growth and fruit production, plum requires 90–110cm well-distributed rainfall throughout the year. Prolonged drought during fruit growth and development and excessive rains during fruit maturity hamper fruit quality.
Climate and Soil
Plum requires varying types of climates. It is grown from subtropical plains to the temperate high hills. European plums thrive best at 1,300–2,000m above mean sea-level. They require about 1,000–1,200hr below 7°C during winter to break rest period, whereas Japanese plums require 700–1,000hr chilling, which is met in midhill areas located at an elevation of 1,000–16,000m. Plums bloom early in the season thus they are prone to frost injury. The areas with frost-free spring, having good air drainage and adequate sunshine in summer are most-suited for plum cultivation. Northern slopes are generally preferred because bloom is delayed which helps the trees to escape spring frost injury. A gentle slope is preferable rather than an enclosed plain area to ensure adequate air and water drainage. For good growth and fruit production, plum requires 90–110cm well-distributed rainfall throughout the year. Prolonged drought during fruit growth and development and excessive rains during fruit maturity hamper fruit quality.
Varieties
There are about 280 varieties of plum available in the country, a few of them being grown commercially. Most of the varieties grown in India belong to Japanese group. However, in dry temperate zone of Himachal Pradesh, prunes are also grown. The promising varieties grown in different regions of the country are given in Table 1.
Table 1. Recommended varieties of plum in temperate regions of different states of India
State Early Mid-season Late
Himachal Pradesh
Highhills Sweet Early, Methley, Kelsey. Starking Delicious, Satsuma. Burbank, Elephant Heart. Mariposa
Midhills Santa Rosa, Beauty, Early Red Beaut, Transparent Cage Frontier, Kanto 5. Mariposa, Tarrol, Red Ace.
Lowhills Alucha Purple and Titron
Uttar Pradesh
Jamuni, Titron, Settler, Cloth of Gold, Ramgarh Maynard. Howe, Alubukhara Sharbati, Zardula, Zardalu Chittidar, Burbank, Elephant, Heart, Satsuma, Black Chamba, Victoria Late yellow, Kanto 5,Sweet Early, Santa Rosa, Mariposa.
Jammu and Kashmir
Saharanpuri White, Plum First Ramgarh, Maynard Sharps, Early Subza. Formosa, Maynard, Bryanstones Ganze, Burbank, Santa Rosa. Satsuma, Grand Duke, Silver Wickson, Beauty, Cloth of Gold, Reine-Claude Bavy Golden Gage
Punjab
Satluj Purple Titron, Kala Amritsari, Kataru Chak Alubukhara
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