Fruit Crops Test 1

and so it begins

ripened mature

the botanical definition for a fruit is a _, _ ovary, along with the contents of the ovary, of a flower-bearing plant.

sweet, edible

fruits, according to the culinary definition, are _ and _ plant parts, often used in desserts or juices or eaten as snacks

ovules

an ovary encloses and protects the _ which turn into seeds

culinary, botanical

a court case established the legal meaning of a fruit as the _ definition over _ classification in statutory interpretation

succulent, melons

the USDA definition of a fruit is a plant from which a more or less _ fruit or closely related botanical structure is commonly eaten as a dessert or snack. however, all _ are classified as vegetables under their system

enclose, dispersal

the U.S. forest service, which is within the USDA, defines fruits as the mature or ripened reproductive structures formed by plants that _ seeds and help with their _. they will generally have fleshy outer material

bananas

the most globally produced fruit, measured in production volume by million metric tons, are _

bananas, avocado, pineapple

the U.S. heavily imports _, _, and _; due to limited climatic capabilities for growing these items in the U.S. and decreasing amounts of agricultural land, as well as increasing consumer demand

mexico, 29.95

in 2024, The U.S. imported the most fruits/fruit products from _, with a 11.7 billion dollar total value. From all countries combined, the U.S. imported _ billion dollars of fruit/fruit products.

13.67, 7.51

from 2015 to 2024, the amount of fruit and vegetable crops that the U.S. exported totaled _ billion dollars, with a total volume of _ metric tons in millions

4.77, 2.48

from 2015 to 2024, the amount of just fruit crops that the U.S. exported totaled _ billion dollars, with a total volume of _ metric tons in millions

floriculture, tomatoes

for the 2023 Florida agricultural value of production, _ sales were the highest at 1.21 billion. _ are second at 494 million

watermelon

In 2024, florida produced the highest share of _ out of all other states, with 24 percent market share

356.9

for the 2023 Florida Commodities Value, fresh fruit totalled _ million

grapefruits, strawberries

oranges, _, watermelons, and _ are florida’s major fruit crops

meteorology, short term

_ is the scientific study of the Earth’s atmosphere and __ weather events, with a focus on weather forecasting

weather

_ is the state of the atmosphere at a specific time and place (temperature, precipitation, humidity, wind, cloud coverage)

climate

_ is the long- term weather pattern in a region and area averages, often analyzed on a 30-year scale

humid subtropical

according to the Koppen classification system, most of Florida is a __ climate. Small bits in the south are either tropical monsoon or tropical savanna

may, october

florida’s wet season is _ through _

daylengths, hops, vegetables

_ vary less from season to season in Florida due to us being closer to the equator. This makes it difficult to grow crops that need large amounts of sunlight hours like _, but our daylight/sunlight amounts and mild temperatures in winter make our climate perfect to grow winter _

relative humidity

__ is amount of moisture/water vapor in the air compared to the max amount the air can hold at that temperature

problematic, vapor

relatively humidity is a _ mode of measurement, since warm air can hold much more water _ than cool air

dew point

__ is A measure of the absolute amount of moisture in the air, and it marks the temperature at which water vapor will turn into liquid water droplets

lower

The dew point will always either be the same or _ than the actual outside temperature

temperature

The higher the dew point, the more water vapor in the atmosphere, regardless of the _

transpiration, pathogen

high humidity can slow plant _, which will also slow uptake of water and nutrients, leading to stunting. It can also lead to increased fungal _ and pest pressure

rotting, winter

crop production in florida can be devastated from hurricanes, flooding can bring disease and _ of crops, and delay schedules for planting of valuable _ crops

winds, freezing

the sustained _ and the multiple nights and hours of well below _ temperatures caused the great Jan/Feb 2026 freeze to be especially damaging to Florida growers

hydrology, atmosphere

_ is the scientific study of water, esp. its properties, distribution, management, and circulation on and below the Earth’s surface and in the _

transpiration

_ is the Evaporation of water vapor from plants and trees into the atmosphere

evapotranspiration

_ is the total water lost from soil evaporation AND plant transpiration

water balance, irrigation, runoff

__ is a basic accounting system for quantifying and tracking the inputs (ex. rain, _), outputs (ex. evapotranspiration, _), and storage changes for a given “system”

availability, efficiency

a water balance system helps estimate and evaluate soil water _, crop water use, and irrigation _

development, weather

crop water demand/ evapotranspiration varies with plant _ stage and _ conditions, so amount and timing of irrigation is important

upper

when the soil in the root zone is above the _ limit for storing water, plants can only use the water in a limited capacity and for a limited amount of time

lower, unable

when the soil in the root zone is above the _ limit for storing water, plants are _ to access and use water

field capacity

__ is the amount of water that can be held by the soil against gravity after being saturated and drained

permanent wilting point

the ___ is the amount of water remaining in the soil when the plant permanently wilts because it can no longer extract water

saturated

when all the soil pore spaces are filled with water, that soil is _. This is bad for long periods of time, as plant roots need air space in the soil as well

plant available water

___ is the amount of soil water that can be absorbed by plant roots

aquifer

according to Merriam Webster, an _is a water-bearing stratum of permeable rock, sand, or gravel

aquifer, economically

according to the Florida Dept. Of Environmental Protection, an _ is a subsurface package of rocks and sediment that yields water in sufficient quantities to be _ useful to society

productive, 100

the Floridan acquifer system is one of the most _ aquifers in the world covers approx. _K square miles of the southeastern US

agricultural

50% of FAS withdrawals are for industrial purposes and _ irrigation

confined, groundwater

a _ aquifer or region of an aquifer has a layer of impermeable material, often consisting of clay, nestled between the land surface and the aquifer. This helps prevent contaminants introduced above ground from seeping into the _

unconfined

_ aquifers lack a protective underground area and are vulnerable to groundwater pollution. Preventative management practices are critical for these areas

denser, below

The FAS holds both fresh and saltwater. Saltwater is _ than freshwater, so it is found _ the freshwater

saltwater intrusion, coastal

In areas where groundwater is excessively pumped or wells are drilled too deeply, __ occurs → underlying, denser saltwater replaces the pumped freshwater. Populated _ areas are the most suceptible

rainfall, faster

All of the aquifer systems in Florida are recharged by _, however, water is being pumped out of the aquifer _ than it can be recharged

hydrogen ion, nutrients

pH is a measurement of acidity/alkalinity by presence of __ concentration. This affects the solubility/availability of plant _, the optimum range is 6-7

salinity

_ is the amount of dissolved salts in water- Different crops have different tolerance levels of salt stress

electrical conductivity, indirect

__ is the capacity of water to conduct an electric current- often used as an _ measurement of salinity

temperature

_ is a basic measurement of water quality

dissolved oxygen

__ is a basic measurement of water quality, healthy water will have a high value

turbidity

_, or how clear water is, is a basic measurement of water quality

point source, regulatory

__ refer to pollutants that can be traced to specific locations, such as outflow from wastewater treatment plants, industrial discharge, etc. It can be managed through _ permitting and compliance

non point source, control

___ refers to pollutants that are discharged from many different widespread areas/are diffuse: such as sewage leaks, agricultural and urban runoff, etc. It is much more difficult to trace, regulate, and _

increase, once, swings

A large Florida hydrological challenge is drought: they will _ with our changing climate, and have occurred at least _ a decade in the past in Florida. They cause a strain on the already-strained FAS, since cropland will need even more supplemental water. Climate records indicate that our state is having wetter summers and drier dry seasons, causing more extreme _ and unreliable conditions

karstification, acid

2 processes are primarily responsible for shaping the Florida we know today: _ is a geologic process where soluble rock (ex., limestone) is dissolved by _ to form features like caves, sinkholes, stalactites, and springs

sea level change

2 processes are primarily responsible for shaping the Florida we know today: ___ is any variation, whether an increase or decrease, in the height of the ocean’s surface relative to land

Africa, Pangaea, warm

The first main phase of the formation of Florida was The Age of Plate Tectonics (>160 mya): Florida started as part of Godwana (modern day _). It assimilated into the supercontinent _ when gondwana collided with Laurasia. Then, continental drift occurred and Florida moved to where it is now, but was mostly underwater due to the _ climate at the time

flooded, georgia seaway, siliciclastic, carbonate

The second main phase of the formation of Florida was The Age of Carbonate Production (160 – 23 mya): Florida’s ‘igneous basement’ was shallowly _ by salty sea water, and a strong current between modern day Florida and Georgia existed, known as the __. It kept florida free of _ materials like clay, quartz sand, and silt; and allowed _ sediments and rocks to freely form, such as limestone. Therefore, karstification also occurred frequently

igneous

Siliclastic sediment is sediment eroded from _ rocks, produced from the erosion of the appalachian mountains in this case

gulf trough, siliciclastic, carbonate

the third main phase of the formation of Florida was The Age of Siliciclastic Invasion (23 mya – present). The Georgia seaway weakened and becomes the __, which then becomes infilled with _ sediment. Florida was now connected to the mainland, and (second blank) materials were being deposited in north and central FL. _ production decreased as a result, but continued in south Florida. Longshore currents created north south oriented barrier islands and inland sand ridges

soil is The collection of __ occupying parts of the Earth’s surface that is capable of supporting plant growth

natural bodies

parent materials

__ are Geological precursors to soil, solid rock that breaks up into smaller particles by weathering – the breaking down of rocks

soil texture

__ is the percentage of sand, silt, and clay particles in a soil

soil structure

__ is the arrangement of primary soil particles into secondary units (bigger chunks)

pore spaces

__ are Voids/gaps between solid particles in soils

structural support

soils provide __- an anchoring point for plant roots

15

soils provide _ of 18 needed plant nutrients

water, gasses

soils provide storage of _ and the exchange of needed _

extremes

soils provide protection from _, especially temperature

entisols, drainage, nitrate

_are sandy and acidic, and can range in _ from very quick to very poor. They are easy to till and warm up fast, but leach Ca, Mg, K, and ammonium ions. There is also a higher risk of _ leaching

botany

_ is the scientific study of plants, especially their anatomy, taxonomy, and ecology

morphology

_ is the study of form and structure in plants

productivity, survival, harvesting

Morphology and botany of fruit crops are important to know for crop growth and _, crop establishment and _, pollination, fruit set, and yield; and pruning, training, and _ practices

stems, canopy

Morphology directly affects management decisions! Knowledge of _ and _ structure guides pruning, trellising, and harvest practices

irrigation, fertilization

Morphology directly affects management decisions! If you have an understanding of the root system and how it responds to soil conditions, you can make better _ & _ decisions

pollination

Morphology directly affects management decisions! If you have an understanding of floral biology, you will understand why _ suceeds or fails

structural, absorption, storage

fruit crop roots provide anchorage, _ support, water and nutrient _, and serve a _ function in some crops like carrots and beets

drought, salinity, maturity

rootstocks in grafted fruit crops can provide disease or pest resistance, environmental tolerances (temperature, _, _, etc), provide size control, hasten reproductive _, and improve transplant success

scaffolding, nutrients

stems of fruit crops serve as support/_ for leaves, flowers, and fruits; while conducting water and _

woody

_ stems occur in perennials like mango, avocado, and citrus

herbaceous

_ stems occur in crops like pineapple and strawberries

rhizomatous

a specialized fruit crop stem occur in bananas, they are _

stolons

a specalized fruit crop stem occurs in strawberries, they create asexual _/runners that will eventually become independant daughter plants

air, fruits, breakage

stem management allows for better _ circulation, better canopy/plant structure, higher quality _, and less of a threat of stem _

photosynthesis, transpiration

leaves have multiple functions: they serve as the site of _, gas exchange, and _

chemical, sinks

leaves are sources of _ energy, like carbs and sugars, while fruits are _

fruit

if a plant defoliates or has diseased leaves, it can’t produce enough energy to support its _

simple

fruit crops with _ leaves include citrus, avocado, mango, blueberry, etc.

compound

fruit crops with _ leaves include strawberries and pecans

spirally

fruit crops with _ arranged leaves include pineapples

waxy

Mango and citrus better retain water due to their _/leathery leaves

decidious

mulberry, peach, fig, muscadine grapes, and annonas all have _ leaves

semi deciduous

blueberries have _-_ leaves

meristems

flower buds form from vegetative buds: The _ in the buds switch from being vegetative (producing shoots and leaves) to reproductive (producing flowers)

dioecious

_ plants make fruit set and yield lower if certain conditions are not met: if both male and female plants are not planted directly near each other, pollinators or wind may not be sufficient for a good crop and human-assisted pollination may need to occur