plant, but quality guava is obtained where low night temperature (10
C) prevails
during the winter season. Guava tolerates high temperature and drought conditions
in north India in summers but it is susceptible to severe frost, which can kill the
young plants (Table 4.1).
Citrus is a subtropical fruit that also grows well under tropical conditions; the
optimal temperature is 16–20
C, although it can be grown above 30
C, but very
high temperature is harmful for fruit quality. Some citrus groups such as mandarin
require low temperatures for optimum growth. With proper irrigation facilities in the
drought areas, good production of citrus is possible. At least 750 mm welldistributed rainfall is necessary for citrus. The custard apple can be grown at
temperatures about 25–35
C, but temperatures above 40
C and less than 0
C
are harmful for custard apple production. The annual rainfall of 900 mm is adequate
with high humidity to help maximize fruit set, but poor fruit set occurs with long
durations of high temperature and dry conditions. Aonla grows under an average
temperature about 28–35
C, needing to be frost free during winter. It has adapted to
a wide range of climatic conditions from sea level up to above 1800 m MSL (Bose
et al. 1999). Grape is a most important subtropical fruit; it grows well under mild
temperatures not exceeding 35
C during summers (Table 4.2). A hot and dry
climate is ideal for fruit production. Higher night temperatures above 25
C during
ripening hamper colour development; rainfall time and frequency are very important.
Rains during flowering and berry ripening cause enormous damage to the berry.
Apple is undoubtedly the most important temperate fruit. It requires chilling
temperature for the germination of seed, about 4
C for 1000 h. It can tolerate
temperatures below 0
C and above 35
C. The optimal temperature for growth of
apple is 10–20
C, but when temperature falls below À2.2
C, apple is injured by the
cold. It is generally grown at elevations from 1600 to 2300 m MSL. Strawberry is
one of the most cultivated temperate fruits; it is grown at an optimal temperature
about 15–25
C with frost-free conditions during the growing season (Table 4.3). In
open conditions at higher elevations where frost and snowfall are common factors,
those areas are sensitive for strawberry production, so it is mostly cultivated under
Table 4.1 Optimal climatic conditions for some important tropical fruits
Fruits
Optimum
temp. (
C)
Optimum
annual rainfall
(mm)
Lat. range
(Distribution) References
Mango
24–30
900–1150
30
N–27
S
Davanport (2009)
Guava
23–28
>1000
26
N–30
S
Verjeij and Coronel (1992)
Mangosteen 25–35
122–1800
12
N–10
S
Osman and Milan (2006)
Litchi
25–35
1200–2500
28
N–27
S
Tindall (1994)
Citrus
16–27
1400–1800
44
N–27
S
Verjeij and Coronel (1992)
Rambutan
24–32
1500–2500
18
N–17
S
Tindall (1994), UDPMS (2002)
and Verjeij and Coronel (1992)
Jackfruit
16–28
1000–1500
28
N–30
S
Ghosh (2000) and Haq (2006)
Ber
22–36
700–1600
22
N–18
S
–
Papaya
18–27
800–1500
25
N–29
S
–
4 Impact of Climate Change and Adaptation Strategies for Fruit Crops
81
C) prevails
during the winter season. Guava tolerates high temperature and drought conditions
in north India in summers but it is susceptible to severe frost, which can kill the
young plants (Table 4.1).
Citrus is a subtropical fruit that also grows well under tropical conditions; the
optimal temperature is 16–20
C, although it can be grown above 30
C, but very
high temperature is harmful for fruit quality. Some citrus groups such as mandarin
require low temperatures for optimum growth. With proper irrigation facilities in the
drought areas, good production of citrus is possible. At least 750 mm welldistributed rainfall is necessary for citrus. The custard apple can be grown at
temperatures about 25–35
C, but temperatures above 40
C and less than 0
C
are harmful for custard apple production. The annual rainfall of 900 mm is adequate
with high humidity to help maximize fruit set, but poor fruit set occurs with long
durations of high temperature and dry conditions. Aonla grows under an average
temperature about 28–35
C, needing to be frost free during winter. It has adapted to
a wide range of climatic conditions from sea level up to above 1800 m MSL (Bose
et al. 1999). Grape is a most important subtropical fruit; it grows well under mild
temperatures not exceeding 35
C during summers (Table 4.2). A hot and dry
climate is ideal for fruit production. Higher night temperatures above 25
C during
ripening hamper colour development; rainfall time and frequency are very important.
Rains during flowering and berry ripening cause enormous damage to the berry.
Apple is undoubtedly the most important temperate fruit. It requires chilling
temperature for the germination of seed, about 4
C for 1000 h. It can tolerate
temperatures below 0
C and above 35
C. The optimal temperature for growth of
apple is 10–20
C, but when temperature falls below À2.2
C, apple is injured by the
cold. It is generally grown at elevations from 1600 to 2300 m MSL. Strawberry is
one of the most cultivated temperate fruits; it is grown at an optimal temperature
about 15–25
C with frost-free conditions during the growing season (Table 4.3). In
open conditions at higher elevations where frost and snowfall are common factors,
those areas are sensitive for strawberry production, so it is mostly cultivated under
Table 4.1 Optimal climatic conditions for some important tropical fruits
Fruits
Optimum
temp. (
C)
Optimum
annual rainfall
(mm)
Lat. range
(Distribution) References
Mango
24–30
900–1150
30
N–27
S
Davanport (2009)
Guava
23–28
>1000
26
N–30
S
Verjeij and Coronel (1992)
Mangosteen 25–35
122–1800
12
N–10
S
Osman and Milan (2006)
Litchi
25–35
1200–2500
28
N–27
S
Tindall (1994)
Citrus
16–27
1400–1800
44
N–27
S
Verjeij and Coronel (1992)
Rambutan
24–32
1500–2500
18
N–17
S
Tindall (1994), UDPMS (2002)
and Verjeij and Coronel (1992)
Jackfruit
16–28
1000–1500
28
N–30
S
Ghosh (2000) and Haq (2006)
Ber
22–36
700–1600
22
N–18
S
–
Papaya
18–27
800–1500
25
N–29
S
–
4 Impact of Climate Change and Adaptation Strategies for Fruit Crops
81