The presentation highlighted about its impact on temperate fruit production and also the suggestion to mitigate its effect. It was presented in a National Seminar on Climate change held at Amity University, Noida, India

1. Climate change: Impact on Productivity and Quality of
Temperate Fruits and Its Mitigation Strategies
Presentation for National workshop on “Climate Change Impact, Mitigation,
and Adaptation for Sustainable Horticulture,
held on
July 23–24, 2015 at Amity School of Natural Resources and Sustainable
Development, Amity University Campus, Sector-125, Noida, India
M. K. Verma, Ph. D., ARS, FSHI
Principal Scientist (Hort.)
Division of Fruits & Horticultural Technology
ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute
New Delhi – 110

2. Climate change sends India's apple farmers up the
Himalayas
• Apples in the Himalayan foothills are seeing the worst effects
of climate change.
• Temp. rose 0.6oC (global), 1.5oC (Himalayas) & 3.4oC (winter temp.)
• reduction in snowfall by 36% (1980-2012),
• Apple cultivation in low altitudes reduced by 77 % (Solan) 1987-
2007.
• Areas turning from sub-temperate to sub-tropical
April 22, 2013
Prof. Kamaljit S. Baba,
University of Massachusetts, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

3. Arunachal apples losing taste due to climate
change
• Apple produced in Arunachal Pradesh are now
gradually losing their taste and even turning
sour as a result of climate change.
• Due to very heavily and erratic rains which
dilutes the sugar content of the crop
February 24, 2013

4. Temperate fruit growing regions in India
■ North Western Himalaya (J&K, H.P., U.K.)
■ Parts of North Eastern Himalaya (Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim,
Meghalaya, Darjeeling)
■Horticulture is a backbone of the states economy.
■ 75% people & 70% of GDP depends on Hort/agriculture
Features of temperate climate
■ Extreme cool winters and mild summers
■ Growing period range from <90 -120 days
■ Fragile ecosystem with harsh and difficult terrain
■ Undulating sloppy terraced land, high soil erosion & low
soil depth
■ Chilling requirement for temperate fruits-mandatory

5. North Western Himalayan region

6. Regions Climate,
altitute
(m, amsl)
Crops grown Parts of the state covered
J&K H.P. UK
Region-I
(Sub
mountaine
& low hill)
Subtropical
200-800
Mango, ber, guava,
citrus, pear
Jammu, Kathua &
Plains of Udhampur
Una, Bilaspur,
Hamirpur & parts
of Shirmor,
Kangra, Solan &
Chamba
Parts of Pauri,
Gharwal, Dehra
Dun, Almora &
Pithoragarh
II (mid
hills)
Sub humid
801-1800
Pear, peach, plum,
apricot, walnut, apple
Hilly areas of Doda,
Udhahampur,
Rajouri, Punch,
Ramban
Parts of Kangra,
Palampur, Shimla,
Mandi, Solan,
Kullu, Chamba
Sirmaur
Parts of all districts
III (High
hills)
Temperate
1801-2200
apple, almond, cherry,
Pear, peach, plum,
apricot, walnut,
All the districts of
Kashmir valley &
Ladakh
Shimla & parts of
Kullu,Solan,
Chamba, Mandi,
Kangra, Sirmaur
Major parts of
Pithiragarh,
Uttarakashi, 7
small parts of
Chamoli & Tehri
Garhwal
IV (very
high hills)
Temperate
dry
> 2200
Apricot, apple,
necterines and prune
Ladakh Kinnor, Lahaul,
Spiti, Pangi
&Bharmour
Parts of
Uttarakashi,
Chamoli,
Pithoragarh &
Almora districts
Agro -ecological regions of NW Himalayas

7. •
Fruits and nuts Apple Pear Pear Quince
Peach Nectarine Apricot Sweet Cherry
Plum Prune Kiwi Fruits Olive
Persimmon Strawberry Blueberry Raspberry
Ribes Walnut Almond Pistachio nut
Chestnut Pecan nut Pecan nut kernel Hazelnut
Important
Fruit Crops
Grown in the
Temperate
Region

8. Growth in area (l ha), production (l. tons) and productivity
(t/ha) of temperate fruits from 1960-61 to 2010-11
Crop 1960-61 2011-12 Percent growth from
1960-61 to 2011-12
Area Prodn Prodty Area Prodn Prodty Area Prodn Prodty
Apple 0.44 1.85 4.15 2.89 28.91 10.00 556.8 1462.7 140.9
Pear 0.06 0.33 5.41 0.379 3.34 8.81 531.6 9121.2
0
62.84
Peach 0.10 0.43 4.30 0.364 2.43 6.67 264 465.11 55.11
Plum 0.03 0.19 3.66 0.246 1.99 8.09 720 947.30 121.0
Apricot 0.03 0.08 2.75 0.048 0.167 3.42 60.00 108.75 24.36
Cherry 0.01 0.03 2.50 0.032 0.133 4.12 220.0 343.30 64.80
Almond NA NA NA 0.023 1.63 0.70 - - -
Walnut 0.14 0.12 0.85 0.308 0.36 1.16 120 200 36.47
NHB, FAO, 2010-11

9.  Although, in one hand there has been seen
marked growth in area and production of
these crops but in other hand productivity
has left far behind as compared to
advanced countries.
 The low productivity is mainly attributed by
several factors including environmental,
physiological and biological.
 Over the years, environmental changes
playing a significant role like occurrence of
erratic rain, snowfall and increase in
temperature

10. Changes in temperature and precipitation vis-a-vis apple
acreage in Himalayan States during 1980–2010
State Period Avg. Annual
Temp. (oC)
Rise in
Temperatur
e (oC)
(1980-2010)
Precipitation
(mm)
Area (ooo
ha)
Approx. new
area covered
under higher
elevations
J & K
Ladakh
1980-85
1986-90
1991-95
1996-2000
2001-2005
2006-2008
2001-2002
2009-2010
13.01
13.58
13.12
13.91
14.46
13.32
-
-
1.45-2.32
726
817
784
585
682
763
Reduced
(1973-2008)
63.09
66.85
71.33
82.18
96.34
138.19
0.609
0.836
-
-
-
6510
8496
25110
-
227

11. State Period Avg.
Annual
Temp.
(oC)
Rise in
Temperature
(oC)
(1980-2008)
Precipitation
(mm)
Area
(ooo
ha)
Approx.
new area
covered
under
higher
elevations
Uttarakhand 1980-85
1986-90
1991-95
1996-2000
2001-2005
2006-2009
12.40
11.45
13.69
13.90
13.84
13.91
1.51
1394
1430
1104
1067
935
1245
-
-
52.70
51.80
55.98
31.66
-
-
-
-
4180
24320
H.P.
Solan/Kangra
Mandi/Chamba
/Sirmaur
Shimla/Kullu
Kinaur/Lahul-
Spiti
1980-1985
1991-2000
2001-2007
1980-1985
2005-2007
1980-1985
2005-2007
1980-1985
2005-2007
1980-1985
2005-2007
13.03
13.77
14.40
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1.37
1323
1270
1023
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
46.80
83.20
90.20
953
549
12368
29172
30975
51491
2532
8965
-
36400
7000
404
16804
20516
6433

12. Impact of climate change in Himalayan states
(Erratic climate/ climate change)
 Variation in temperature
rise is visible (1980-2009)
 Early melting of glaciers
and floods
 Change in cropping
pattern/systems
 Warmer and extended
winters – erratic changes
 Erratic and reduced
winter precipitation and
snowfall
 Depletion of ground
water and water scarcity
0
1
2
J&K
UA
HP
1.89
1.51
1.37
Riseinannualmean
temperatureby(oC)
This formerly
paddy land has
been
converted into
an orchard in
Khan Sahib

13. Shift in apple cultivation
towards higher altitude
and cold arid areas
 Shift in ecological zones
 Majority of the apple
orchards in UK have
become unproductive
over the year – low
chilling (?)
 Incidence and
resurgence of insect and
diseases of horticultural
crops
Apple production in Ladakh
(Future potential area)
Unproductive orchards
in lower altitudes in
U.K.
Fruit bearing
peach trees in
U.K.

14.  Mechanical damage
during active growing
stage directly
responsible for canker &
gummosis
Hail storms and low
temperature during
spring – common
phenomenon now.
Crop failure in high
chill fruit crops under
low altitutes
 Dry spell during late
spring and early
summers
Early blooming of fruit blossoms and
flowers due to warmer temperatures
during February and March in Kashmir has
been damaging fruit produce as sudden
late snows in February and March
devastate blossoms

15. Effect on flowering
 Bud burst is advanced
and the onset of growth
occurs earlier as in apple
where most of the trees
sprout 2-3 weeks earlier
than normal sprouting
(mid April )
 Due to change in bud
opening in March, they
may become Susceptible
to frost damage
Occurrence of late snowfall- causes heavy
damage to almonds- coincided with full bloom
Apricot in bloom-coincided with late
winter snow fall

16.  Apples fails to attain their
characteristic deep red
color if night temperature
are high (11.5 & 21)
 High temperature and
moisture stress increases
sunburn & cracking in
apples, apricot, cherry,
pomegranate etc.
Effect on fruit quality

17.  Wetter, warmer winters favours incidence
of diseases like Phytophthora,
Fusarium etc.
 Drier, warmer summers favours diseases
such as Alternaria, powdery mildew,
sooty bark diseases (under moisture
stress)
 Warm and humid temperature favours
apple scab
 Very dry summers results in increase in
population of red spider mite and aphids
--- more problem of attacks on apple
(Orson, 1999)
Effect of climate change on diseases and insects
Powdery mildew of apple
at dry and warmer
summers
Apple scab in warm
and humid
temperature
Mite attack on apple
Apple aphid in dry summer
Flea beetle in warm and
humid climate
Woolly aphis

18. Introduction of low chilling cultivars.
Diversification with other high value fruit crops (peach,
apricot, olive , kiwi fruit etc.)
Development of new genotypes having resistance to high
temperature.
I. CROP IMPROVEMENT STRATEGIES
Mitigation strategies

19. • Dorsett Golden (250), Anna (300), Tropic Mac (300), Tropic Sweet (300), 88-20
(375), Ein Scheimer (400), 60-39 (400), Tamma, Neomi, Tropic Beauty, Gallia
Beauty, Winter Banana, Tame, Vered
Anna (300), Dorsett Golden (250), Tropic Sweet (300),
Tropic Beauty, Winter Banana,
Low chilling Apple
•There are few varieties adapted to mild winter climates (chill hours
below 500).

20. Pear (Pyrus communis & P. pyrifolia)
• Patharnakh, Gola, Leconte, Keiffer, Smith, Baghugosha, China
Pear, Pineapple, Baldwin, Tenn, Flordahome, Ayers Hood,
Orient, Carnea, Tsu Li, Ya Li, P. calleryana (rootstock requires
400 chilling hours)
Flordahome,
Keiffer,
Ayers Hood,

21. CITH Apricot-1 CITH Apricot-3 CITH Apricot-2

22. Low Chilling peaches
Chilling Hours
(Hrs)
Cultivars
Less than 100 Okinawa (50), Red Ceylon (50),
100-150 UF Sun (100), FlordaGrande (100), Flordabelle (110),
Flordared (110), Flordawon (110), FlordaPrince (150),
FlordaGlo (150), Tropic Beauty (150)
>150-200 UF Beauty (200)
>200-250 Sunred (210), Flordabest (250), UFO (250)
>250-300 UF 2000 (300), UF Blaze (300), Flordadawn (300), Early
Amber (310), Flordasun (310), UF Sharp (325),
FlordaKing (350), Flordacrest (350), Gulfking (350),
Desert Gold (350), Jewel (350)
>300-350 Early Amber (310), Flordasun (310), UF Sharp (325),
FlordaKing (350), Flordacrest (350), Gulfking (350),
Desert Gold (350), Jewel (350)

23. Chilling
Hours (Hrs)
Cultivars
>350-400 Gulfcrimson (400), Gulfprince (400), Sun Ripe (400), Florda
Home (400), La Festival (400), La Pecker (400), Rio Grande (400)
>400-450 Tejan (420), Rechan (450), Tex Star (450)
>450-500 Whiterobin (500), Bonita (500), Sunfire (500), Ventura (500),
May Gold Su (500)
>500-550 Gulfcrest (525), Flordaqueen (540), Sungold (540)
>550-600 Gulfcrest (525), Flordaqueen (540), Sungold (540)
>600-650 Springtime (650), June Gold (650)
>650-700 Maygold (660), Junegold (660), Springtime (660), Armgold
(660), Suwannee (660),
Others Tropic Snow, Parbhat, Pratap, Khurmani, Sharbati, Safeda Early
Cream, Saharanpur Prabhat, Shan-i-Punjab, Shaharanpur No. 6,
Ranjit Bagh Early, Safeda (LR Brothers), Shaharanpur Hybrid 3,
China Flat, Babcock

24. Early Grande – 100 CU
Flordaprince – 150 CU
Red Ceylon – 50 CU UF Sun – 100 CU Tropic Beauty - 150 CU
Babcock – 350-400 CU Flordaking – 350- CU
Sunraycer (250) Sunmist (275) Sunred

25. Gulfbeauty
Low Chilling plum and prune
Gulfblaze
Gulfrose
Gulfruby

26. Almond (Prunus dulcis)
• Achak (266),
• Desmayo Largueta (309), Ramillete (326),
• Marcona (435), Marta (478),
• Antoneta (514), Ferragnes (558)
• California Papershell, Hybrid 15, Pathick.s Wonder, JKS-55, H-
98,
California Papershell Marcona (435) Ferragnes

28. CITH Walnut-5
CITH Walnut-4CITH Walnut-3
CITH Walnut-2CITH Walnut-1 CITH Walnut-6 CITH Walnut-7 CITH Walnut-8
CITH Walnut-9 CITH Walnut-10
CITH Cherry-1 CITH Cherry-2 CITH Lodh Apple-1

29. II. Agro- techniques
Proper drought management, moisture conservation,
critical irrigation, water harvesting)
Anti-hail nets/guns- prevent damage to some extent.
Foggy and cloudy weather-leads to russetting and
flyspeck-early genotypes and early harvest prevent damage.
Weather forecasting- helps in taking advance measures in
a changing scenario for predicting crop growth, yield, and
insect pests resurgence

30. Moisture conservation techniques

31. Moisture conservation techniques

32. Drip irrigation in Almond orchards for
effective water utilization

33. Prevention/protection from hailstorm

34. Energy harvest through plant architectural engineering.
Espalier resulted in highest yield as compare to the Single axis.
Coe Red Fuji and Granny Smith recorded highest yield 58.31 and
48.07 t/ha and 24.47 and 17.12 t/ha.
Spindle Bush, Head and Spread and Modified Leader, the cultivar
Golden Delicious, Mollies Delicious and Starkrimson resulted in
highest yield.

35. High density orcharding

36. Red Globe fruiting in Tatura trellis system
Flowering in Fantasia nectarine in
Tatura trellis system

37. Crop diversification

38.  Development of disease insect forecasting system and
efficient management methods.
 Preparation of data base for development of model for
disease insect forecasting.
 Strengthening surveillance of pest and diseases
 To study the pattern of increasing climatic variability and
change could lead to rapid build up of pathogens and
insect pests
III. Plant protection strategies

39. Conclusion
 Climate change impacts are to be looked not in isolation but in conjunction
with all the aspect of agriculture and allied sectors
 Effects of climate change on horticulture sector are still uncertain
 In the light of possible global warming, researchers should give more
emphasis on development of heat- and drought-resistance crops
 Research is needed to define the current limits to these resistances and the
feasibility of manipulation through modern genetic techniques
 Both crop architecture and physiology may be genetically altered to adopt to
warmer environmental conditions
 At the regional level, those charged with planning for resource allocation,
including land, water, and agriculture development should also take climate
change into account
 Continuation of current and new initiatives of research so as to minimize the
effects of climate change at farm, regional, national and international level.
It will help to provide a detailed picture of how world horticulture and
agriculture could change.
 Formulation and implementations of policies and other adaptations in
horticultural systems that would minimize the negative effects of climate
change and exploits the beneficial effects