The “Practical Manual on Fundamentals of Horticulture and Plant Propagation” contains elaborate information on the field exercises. The tools and implements of horticultural use, potting, depotting and repotting, nomenclature and identification of fruit plants, classification of fruits are the important exercises of this course and the students will be able to study them in detail. The students will be trained in seedbed preparation, lying out of the orchard by various systems. The practical exercise on plant lifting, packing, aftercare and planting in the orchard will be very useful. Detailed exercises on various aspects of propagation viz., cutting, layering, budding and grafting have been included in this manual. Training and pruning of fruit plants, method of irrigation in fruit crops, method of fertilizer application and preparation of growth regulators for propagation are highly skilled job and the students will be train practically. Students can also think of joining this sector in their future life and can develop themselves as successful entrepreneurs in the area of horticulture. This Practical Manual has been written in a very simple and understandable language. It is hoped that this manual will be very useful to the under-graduate students as a teaching aid. The information included in this manual is considered to be utmost value for the students of Fruit Science, nurserymen, fruit growers, subject matter specialists and extension workers in the field of fruit production.

Prof. (Dr.) Vipin Masih Prasad is working as Professor and Head, Department of Horticulture, SHIATS, Allahabad. He completed his bachelor and master’s degree from Allahabad Agriculture Institute, Allahabad. Dr. Prasad completed his Ph.D. in Horticulture from Kanpur University Kanpur. He started his carrier as a Lecturer (ad hoc) from 23-3-1996 and joined Assistant Professor on 26-03-1997 at SHIATS, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India. His field of specialization is Vegetable Science & Post Harvest Technology of Fruits and Vegetables. Dr. Prasad has long experiences (about 20 years) in Teaching/ Research & Extension work. He successfully guided 8 Ph.D. and 58 post-graduate students in their research. He received several awards and recognitions. Dr. Prasad has membership of different National and international societies and attended so many International/ National Symposia, conferences etc. He has published more than 30 research papers in different National and international Journals and author of a book. Dr. Balaji Vikram, working as Teaching Assistant, Department of Horticulture at SHIATS, Allahabad. He got his Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture in the year 2007, Masters in Agriculture Science with specialization in Horticulture in 2009 from the prestigious Allahabad Agricultural Institute, Deemed to-be University, Allahabad. Later he completed his Doctoral Research and was conferred Ph. D. in the year 2016 from SHIATS, Allahabad. Besides contributing 90 publications, which include research papers, book chapters, extension articles, etc., he also delivered scientific guest lecture (Expert) at District level training programme (Krishak Gosthi, FSIP and Seasonal Mela’s) conducted by Krishi Vibhag and Udyan Vibhag. U.P. He is invited regularly as horticulture expert at "Doordarshan" Allahabad. He also participates actively in NSS during the year 2008 to 2016. He received several awards Young Scientist Award 2012 from Bioved Research Society, Allahabad. (U.P.) and also Distinguished Service Award 2016 from Society of Biological Sciences and Rural Development, Allahabad. (U.P.) India. Dr. Vikram has membership of different National and international societies and attended so many International/ National Symposia, conferences etc.