Horticultural Research and Development in Iran: A Review

Iran due to its geographical situation, temperate climate, reach genetical diversity of wild and native fruit trees and arid and semi-arid regions that economize fruit production regarding to the field crops has significant position both in national, as well as international level. Most important fruit products is pistachio, fig, grape, citrus species, apples, olive and other stone and nuts that totally cover more the 2.5 million hectares of orchards. They distribute in various area from north with temperate climate to the south tropical regions. National germplasm of fruit trees have been distributed for research in four research institutes, responsible for palm date, citrus, pistachio and other temperate and sub-tropical fruit researches. During the last decade there was an increment on many temperate and tropical fruit areas, while some others decreased due to political decisions, as important disease such as fire blight. There are some barriers in front of fruit production industry of Iran, such as well-established cooperatives, to export its product for overseas markets which should be overtaken. Recent increase in fuel prices draw new era for use of dwarfing rootstocks, more marketable fruit products, and an popular tendency for healthy horticultural products.