The history of fruit tree cultivation began some 5,000 years ago; the step from collecting fruits from forest trees to the cultivation of trees being initiated in the house gardens of the first emerging cities in Mesopotamia. Fruits were regarded as precious commodities, providing sweet, refreshing and storable food, and were - last but not least - a source of alcoholic beverages.

Fruits are highly prized for their nutritional value, and as the requirements for better food increases, production is rapidly increasing in many parts of the world. Fresh fruit are "low fat" and "fiber-rich" food, and contain high vitamin content and antioxidative capacity.

This bulletin discusses the botanical, physiological and nutrient management aspects of the pome and stone fruit. The author compiles and discusses the latest research on the topic, with much data originating from Europe. Pome and Stone Fruit of the Temperate Zone is an ideal publication for farmers, extension managers and researchers.

The author, Dr. Georg Ebert, has a PhD on Influence of internal and environmental factors on root respiration of apple trees, and joined the agricultural advisory service of the marketing department at K+S KALI GmbH in Kassel, Germany, after heading the Fruit Science Department of Humboldt University Berlin.

The bulletin covers the following chapters:

1. Introduction
2. Botany and Physiology
3. Mineral Nutrients
4. Management of Nutrient Supply
5. Bio-Production
6. References
7. Appendix: Plates