Citrus

Laszlo traces the spectacular rise and spread of citrus across the globe, from southeast Asia in 4000 BC to modern Spain and Portugal, whose explorers inroduced the fruit to the Americas. This book explores the numerous roles that citrus has played in agriculture, horticulture, cooking, nutrition, religion, and art.

The Genus Citrus presents the enormous amount of new knowledge that has been generated in recent years on nearly all topics related to citrus. Beginning with an overview of the fundamental principles and understanding of citrus biology and behavior, the book provides a comprehensive view from Citrus evolution to current market importance. Reporting on new insights supported by the elucidation of the citrus genome sequence, it presents groundbreaking theories and fills in previous knowledge gaps. Because citrus is among the most difficult plants to improve through traditional breeding, citrus researchers, institutions and industries must quickly learn to adapt to new developments, knowledge and technologies to address the biological constraints of a unique fruit-tree such as citrus. Despite the challenges of working with citrus, tremendous progress has been made, mostly through advances in molecular biology and genomics. This book is valuable for all those involved with researching and advancing, producing, processing, and delivering citrus products. Includes the most current research on citrus genomic information Provides the first detailed description of citrus origin, a new proposal for citrus taxonomy, and a redefinition of the genus Citrus Details citrus challenges including climate change, global disease impacts, and plant improvement strategies

A guide to selecting and growing more than one hundred varieties of oranges, mandarins, lemons, limes, grapefruit, and kumquats, as well as exotic citrus, offering practical methods for making citrus part of outdoor living areas, and discussing alternative, chemical-free methods of pest control to ensure healthy as well as healthful fruit.

Commercially used for food flavorings, toiletry products, cosmetics, and perfumes, among others, citrus essential oil has recently been applied physiologically, like for chemoprevention against cancer and in aromatherapy. Citrus Essential Oils: Flavor and Fragrance presents an overview of citrus essential oils, covering the basics, methodology, and applications involved in recent topics of citrus essential oils research. The concepts, analytical methods, and properties of these oils are described and the chapters detail techniques for oil extraction, compositional analysis, functional properties, and industrial uses. This book is an unparalleled resource for food and flavor scientists and chemists.

Modified citrus pectin (MCP) is an amazing substance backed by impressive research. In this book, you'll learn that in addition to having the same beneficial effects as pectin, from which it is derived, MCP also has the extraordinary added benefit of protecting against cancer, cancer progression, and heart disease. Of all diseases, MCP has been studied most extensively for prostate cancer, one of the most common cancers in men. MCP has been shown to slow PSA doubling time, to stop the spread of prostate cancer, and to kill prostate cancer cells. Moreover, you'll learn how it may lower cholesterol, reduce atherosclerosis, remove heavy metals and environmental toxins from the body, and prevent and reduce the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease.

Citrus is one of the world's major fruit crops, with global availability and popularity contributing to human diets. Citrus fruits are the highest-value fruit crop in terms of international trade. Current annual worldwide citrus production is estimated at over 70 million tons, with more than half of this being oranges. The rise in citrus production is mainly due to the increase in cultivation areas, improvements in transportation and packaging, rising incomes, and consumer preference for healthy foods. Citrus fruit growth and quality are dependent on climatic conditions, in addition to soil type, water availability, cultural practices, and nutrient supply. The book briefly explains the fruit morphology, anatomy, physiology and biochemistry, growth phases, maturity standards, grades, and physical and mechanical characteristics of citrus trees. It also provides the foundation for understanding the growth, harvest, and post-harvest aspects of citrus fruits. Insect pests and diseases, irrigation, nutrition, and rootstocks are also addressed in this book.