The cultivation of fruits is called:

Pomiculture is the branch of horticulture that deals with the cultivation of fruits. The word comes from the Latin "pomum", meaning "fruit" (especially an apple), and "cultura", meaning "cultivation". It is also called pomology, which strictly means the science of fruit growing.

Scope of pomiculture:

• Selection of suitable fruit varieties and rootstocks.
• Propagation of fruit plants by seeds, cuttings, layering, grafting and budding.
• Planting systems, orchard management, pruning and training of trees.
• Irrigation, nutrition, and protection from pests and diseases.
• Harvesting, post-harvest handling, storage and marketing.

Fruit production in India:

• India is the second largest producer of fruits in the world, after China.
• India is the largest producer of mangoes, bananas and papayas.
• Major fruit crops include mango, banana, citrus (oranges and lemons), guava, apple, papaya, pomegranate, grapes and pineapple.

Leading states:

• Andhra Pradesh is the largest producer of fruits in India.
• Uttar Pradesh is the largest producer of mangoes.
• Maharashtra leads in pomegranates and grapes; Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh lead in apples.

Branches of horticulture:

• Pomology (pomiculture): fruits.
• Olericulture: vegetables.
• Floriculture: flowers and ornamental plants.
• Arboriculture: care of individual trees, shrubs and woody plants, especially for beauty and shade.
• Landscape gardening: designing gardens and green spaces.
• Post-harvest technology: handling, processing and storage of horticultural produce.

Other "-cultures" in agriculture:

• Sericulture: rearing silkworms.
• Apiculture: beekeeping.
• Pisciculture: fish farming.
• Agrostology: the study of grasses.

Institutions:

The Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture is at Lucknow, the Central Institute of Temperate Horticulture is at Srinagar, and the Indian Institute of Horticultural Research is at Bengaluru.

Why not the other options?

• ✗Olericulture is the cultivation of vegetables.
• ✗Floriculture is the cultivation of flowers.
• ✗Arboriculture is the cultivation and care of trees, shrubs and woody plants.