Grape in India

A grape is a fruiting berry of the deciduous woody vines of the botanical genus Vitis. Grapes can be eaten raw or they can be used for making wine, jam, juice, jelly, grape seed extract, raisins, vinegar, and grape seed oil. Grapes are a non-climacteric type of fruit, generally occurring in clusters. Grape cultivation is one of the most remunerative farming enterprises in India. Famous Indian medicine scholars, Sasruta and Charaka in their medical treatises, mentioned the medicinal properties of grapes. Grape is grown under a variety of soil and climatic conditions in three distinct agro-climatic zones, namely, sub-tropical, hot tropical and mild tropical climatic regions in India. Grape is cultivated over an area of 34,000 hectares with an annual production of 1,000,000 tonnes. For the survival of the grape industry in India, the produce should be quality and cost competitive. All aspects have been covered in this book viz., soil, water, climate, propagation and root stock, varieties, the establishment of vineyard training, pruning systems, physiological disorders, pest and diseases, processing and wine-making. This book will be of much use to the grape grower, horticulturist, research and extension personnel.