Thrust Areas

1. To evolve and improve pome, stone and nut fruits through genetic manipulation(breeding) and selection.
2. To evaluate the varieties/rootstock for their suitability under varying agro-climatic conditions of Kashmir valley.
3. To standardize the propagation and nursery management techniques for quick and large-scale multiplication of fruit cultivars and rootstocks.
4. To standardize the planting density, training systems and pruning techniques for getting high and regular yields of high quality fruits.
5. To standardize methods of soil and orchard management of different fruit kinds.
6. To standardize the agro-techniques for the rejuvenation of old orchards for improving the yield and productivity.
7. To identify the deficiency and toxicity symptoms of nutrient elements in fruit plants and to establish their critical limits.
8. To establish the nutrient doses and to improve the efficiency of fertilizers use.
9. To standardize the techniques of plant growth regulators use for regular cropping and high quality fruit.
10. To standardize the yield for forecasting techniques in fruit trees.
11. To introduce, select and conserve germplasm of endangered species/varieties of different kind of fruits.

Research Projects Completed (Externally Funded)

Ongoing Research Projects

 (a) Externally funded

Title of the Project	Funding Agency	Name of PI.
Raising of quality planting material of pome, stone and nut fruit trees.	ICAR	Dr. K.K. Srivastava
Mass propagation of apple clonal rootstock through tissue culture.	ICAR	Dr. A.K. Sharma
Popularization of zero-energy polyhouse for vegetative propagation of walnut.	ICAR	Dr. S.R. Singh
Establishment of quality control cum leaf tissue analysis lab.	APEDA	Dr. M. Feza Ahmad

 (b) RCM Approved projects 

Title of the project	Name of P.I.
Fruit Improvement
Survey, selection, introduction and evaluation of apple and pear varieties.	K.D. Farooqui
Breeding commercially important scab-resistant varieties of apple.	K. D. Farooqui
Survey, selection, maintenance and evaluation of indigenous and exotic walnut plant material.	Dr. S. R. Singh
Evaluation of introduced sweet cherry cultivars.	Dr. M.Feza Ahmad
Improvement of peach through breeding.	Dr. A.H. Pandit
Comparative evaluation of promising almond cultivars.	Dr. A.H. Pandit
Survey and evaluation for conservation of promising types of apricot in Kashmir valley.	Dr. K. K. Srivastava
varietal evaluation of strawberry.	Dr. M. Feza Ahmad
Survey, selection, evaluation and collection of promising peach and nectarine cultivars.	Dr. K. K. Srivastava
Propagation
Evaluation of pear suckers for different rootstock characters.	Dr. K.K. Srivastava
Lateral branch induction of apple nursery plants.	K.M. Bhat
Studies on chip budding in nut fruits.	Dr. K. K. Srivastava
Studies on seed germination and subsequent growth of chestnut (Castanea sativa) seedlings.	Dr. K. K. Srivastava
Studies on seed germination and seedling survival of Chilgoza (Pinus gerardiana) under Kashmir valley climatic conditions.	Dr. M.A. Mir
Standardization of seed germination techniques in pistachio nut (Pistachia vera L.)	Dr. S. R. Singh
Biotechnology
Studies on in-vitro propagation of Kiwi fruit (Actinidia chinensis).	Dr. M.A. Mir
Response of cherry clonal rootstock (colt) to in vitro culture.	Dr.M. A. Mir
Orchard Management
Screening of strawberry varieties for organic production system.	Dr. S. R. Singh
Comparative evaluation of various conventional and organic management protocols in apple.	Dr. S. R. Singh
Effect of Biozyme Fruit+  on productivity of apple.	Dr. M.K. Sharma
Impact of BIOVITA on fruit set, yield and quality of apple.	Dr. M.K. Sharma
Effect of foliar application of boron and zinc on fruit set and productivity of almond.	Dr. A. H. Pandit
Evaluation of Bone Meal under different integrated nutrient management systems in apple.	Dr. S. R. Singh
Control of Physiological disorder (hen and chicken) in grape   cv.  Sahebi.	Dr. M.Feza Ahmad
Response of the propagating material and IBA treatment on rooting potential of Hazelnut.	Dr. K.K. srivastava