Question

Who is known as the father of pomology?

Answer 1

The pomology is sometimes called as fruticulture. It deals with the study of planting of fruits and nuts, their harvesting and marketing. Every fruit crop is covered in pomology. It also involves the study of storage conditions of fruits and nut crops.

Complete answer:
The fruits are of two types on the basis of size- large size fruits and small size fruits. Large size fruits are apples, watermelon etc. Small size fruits include strawberries and raspberries. Pomology is the branch of science that deals with the production of fruits and analyzes them. It deals with the cultivation of fruits.

The pomology is important because of following benefits:
- The pomology aims to improve the quality of fruits and nuts.
- As a branch of horticulture, it is also involved in the study of fertilization and pruning methods to increase the production of fruits.
- This branch of science also deals with the enhancement in food production and quality, reduction of cost etc.
- It helps in the development of new varieties of fruits that have high nutritional value.
- It is also involved in the development of disease resistant variety of fruits.

A pomologist studies the development and harvesting of fruits. They study the shelf life of fruits and look for their growing conditions. An American pomologist, Charles Dowing who gave a major contribution in horticulture and pomology is known as the father of pomology.

Note: The horticulture is the branch of science that is closely related to botany. It deals with the study of plants that can be grown in garden. The plants can be cultivated for food and for ornamental purposes. hence, horticulture is divided into two groups- one group deals with the study of fruits and vegetables (olericulture) while other deals with the study of flowers (floriculture) and nursery crops (landscape horticulture).