Biotechnological interventions for the production of superior, disease free planting material of apple (Malus x domestica Borkh.) rootstocks

The fruit industry in India has made a remarkable progress during the last decade (1999-2009). The area under fruit crops has increased from 1.22 million ha in 1997 to 6.1 million ha in 2009. As per the FAO source, India ranked second, only next to China with a production of about 68.5 million tonnes in 2008-09. India's share in the world production of fruits is about 12% and India produces about 41% of the world mangoes and 28% of the world bananas ranking first in both the fruits (NHB, 2009). The five main fruits, namely, mango, banana, citrus, guava and apple, alone cover about 76% of the total fruits produced in the country.