The book "A Handbook of Horticultural Sciences Vol. 1" is an extensive resource that provides a comprehensive overview of various topics in Horticulture. It serves as a valuable reference guide for students, professors, researchers, builders, and horticulturists. The book consists of five units that cover Fundamentals of Horticulture, Growth and Development of Horticultural Crops, Propagation of Horticultural Crops, Management of Horticultural Crops, and Production Technology of Fruit Crops. Each unit is comprised of numerous chapters that are detailed according to the ICAR syllabus.

This handbook is highly beneficial for those studying for competitive examinations such as Central and State Public Service Commission exams, SSC, Forestry exams, ICAR – AIEEA for JRF and SRF exams, PG admissions, ARS, ICAR-NET, IBPS-AFO exams, and Post graduate entrance examinations for IARI, BHU, SAU's, CAU's, Deemed Universities, Private Agricultural Colleges, and more. The book is especially useful for those preparing for the aforementioned exams as it includes facts and figures at the end of each unit. In unit I, the book provides information on Institutes under ICAR, special names of Horticultural crops, causes for colour/bitterness of fruits and vegetables, major nutritional deficiency symptoms, and area, production, export, and import of Horticultural crops during previous years. Meanwhile, in unit 5, the book presents a table with common and scientific names of fruit crops, their family, chromosome number, origin, inflorescence, fruit types, flowering and fruiting period, and an abstract of production technology of fruit crops. These tables are incredibly helpful for graduates preparing for competitive exams.

K. Vanangamudi, Former Dean (Agriculture), graduated B.Sc., (Ag.) in 1975 from Agricultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore; M.Sc., (Ag.) and Ph.D. in Seed Science and Technology, respectively in 1977 and 1981 from TNAU; and Post Doctoral Fellow (1988-1990) at Mississippi State University, USA. He joined Department of Seed Science and Technology, TNAU as Assistant Professor in 1982 and served the University for 32 years as Associate Professor (1986-1988) at Agricultural Research Station, Bhavanisagar; Post-Doctoral Fellow (1988-1990), Mississippi State University, USA; Professor (1992-2001) at Forest College & Research Institute, Mettupalayam; Professor and Head (2001-2003) of Department of Seed Science and Technology; Dean, Adhiparasakthi Agricultural College (2003-2006), Kalavai; and Dean (Agriculture), Agricultural College and Research Institute, TNAU, Coimbatore (2006-2010). He retired from service on August 31, 2013.

He has undergone Post Doctoral Programme in Tree Seed Technology at Mississippi State University, USA from 1988-1990 and visited USA, Japan and Canada in connection with Forestry education and research under USAID-Winrock International program. He underwent training on e-learning and web based teaching at UC, Davis, California and Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA during 2007.
Dr. Vanangamudi’s significant contributions in Agricultural Education are:
• Started B.Tech (Bioinformatics), B. Tech (Agricultural Information Technology) and BS (Agribusiness Management) degrees at AC&RI, Coimbatore,
• Started B.Sc (Horti.) degree at Adhiparasakthi Agricultural College, Kalavai.
• He introduced e-education and online examination
• Under NAIP project on “Development of e-courses for B.Sc., (Ag) degree program as Co.PI, he developed e-learning materials for all the 50 courses and hosted in TNAU and ICAR websites
• Video streaming of lecture presentation by the teachers in the classroom
(Video filming, editing and publishing).
• Prepared course materials for 90 courses for Industrial Training Institute (ITI) program in Agriculture, Horticulture, Agricultural Engineering, Animal husbandry, Poultry and Food Processing under “Modular Employment Skills” and “Centre of Excellence” funded by National Instructional Media Institute, Ministry of Labour & Employment, GOI, Chennai, for the students and instructors of ITI all over India.
As a researcher, he was the Principal Investigator of 11 research projects funded by ICAR-NAIP, ICAR-World bank, ICFRE-World bank, Tamil Nadu Forest department, Ministry of Labour and Employment (GOI), CIDA-Gulpeh, Canada and Private agencies.
Dr. Vanangamudi has published 2 review papers, 35 research papers in International journals, 112 research papers in National journals, 29 popular articles in English and 53 in Tamil. He has written 46 books in English and 10 in Tamil. He has also written 11 technical bulletins in English and 29 in Tamil.
His recent books are:
• A Handbook of Agricultural Sciences Vol 1 & 2.
• Objective Seed Science and Technology – 2nd Edition, Revised & Enlarged
• MCQ’s in Plant Breeding, Biotechnology & Seed Science
• Model test paper of Seed Science and Technology
• Seed Science and Technology: 2nd Enlarged and Fully Revised Edition
• Competitive Seed Science and Technology
• Competitive Agriculture
In recognition of his contribution in Agricultural Education, Research and Extension, he was awarded with
• Best PG teacher award in 1998 by TNAU
• Best scientist award in 1999 by TNAU
• Best PG teacher award 2000 by Madras Agricultural Students Union (MASU), Coimbatore
• Best Seed scientist award in 2003 by Hisar Agricultural University (HAU), Hisar
• Best research paper award in 2005 by Indian Society of Seed Technology (ISST), New Delhi
• Tamil Nadu scientist award in 2006 by Tamil Nadu State Council for Science and Technology (TNSCST), Chennai
• Bharat Ratna Dr. C. Subramaniam best teacher award in 2006 by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi.
He is a recognized guide of Bharathiar University, Coimbatore; Bharathidasan University, Trichy and Forest Research Institute, Dehradun.
He was a Research and Technical Consultant to Little’s Orientals Balm and Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Chennai for seed priming, seed film coating and setting up of Seed Research Lab; to a farmer for 200 acres of farm land development; to a EU-KKID-Peace trust project for end term evaluation; and to a Kerala Forest Department project (World Bank) for developing training course syllabi and establishment of seed processing and testing units. He served as Senior Advisor and Consultant to Dr Mohan’s Health Care Products Ltd., Chennai.
 

N. Chezhiyan, worked as a Professor and Head, Department of Spices and Plantation crops, Horticultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore; Professor and Head, Horticultural Reasearch Station, Thadiyankudisai and Professor and Head of Vegetable Crops, Adhiparasakthi Agricultural College, Kalavai. He graduated B.Sc., (Agri.) in 1972 and Ph.D (Floriculture) in 1991 from TNAU, Coimbatore; M.Sc., (Horticulture) from Allahabad Agricultural Institute, Allahabad. Dr. N. Chezhiyan served in TNAU in various capacities for 30 years since 1979 to 2008. He also served as an Agricultural officer in the Department of Agriculture, Government of  Tamil Nadu from 1972 to 1976. He has rich experience in teaching, research and extension; and guided 18 M.Sc., (Horticulture) students and 16 Ph. D scholars in Horticulture. Two of his Ph.D scholars were awarded with ICAR Jawaharlal Nehru Award for Best Thesis in Pomology. He released 13 varieties in fruits, vegetables, spices and flower crops. He has published 175 research papers in International and National journals, 10 books and 150 popular articles. Dr. Chezhiyan attended 20 trainings and 20 workshops/seminars; and organized 35 trainings and 20 workshops/seminars. He served as a member of Academic Council and Board of Studies (Horticulture), TNAU, Coimbatore.

M. Kokila is now pursuing PG program in the Department of Seed Science and Technology. She worked  as a Faculty, Trinity Cultural Academy, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore. She graduated B.Sc., (Agri.) in 2019 from Agricultural College and Research Institute (TNAU), Kudumiyanmalai, Pudukkottai, Tamil Nadu. She has published 4 books related to Agricultural sciences as follows:
• A Handbook of Agricultural Sciences Vol 1 & 2.
• Model test paper of Seed Science and Technology
• Competitive Agriculture
She has participated in Personality Development Workshop held on 21st & 22nd January 2019 in AC & RI, Kudumiyanmalai. She has also undergone ten days internship with NGO (Vrutti). She also served as a National Service Scheme volunteer (2015-17) and committee leader in various college functions (2018-2019).

M. Prabhu is currently working as an Associate Professor in Horticulture at Department of Vegetable Science, Horticultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore. He has 17 years of experience in teaching, research and extension activities related to Horticultural Sciences. He worked as a researcher in Fruit Science, Vegetable Science, Ornamental Horticulture, Medicinal plants, Agro-forestry and Palmyrah. He handled 10 research and development projects related to Horticultural Sciences. He is one of the contributors for the development of brinjal hybrid COBH 2, which is moderately tolerant to shoot and fruit borer infestation.

He handled 75 courses for undergraduate, 10 courses for postgraduate degree programs, and 5 courses for open and distance learning programs. He was recognized as Question paper setter and External Examiner for TNAU, Annamalai University, Kerala Agricultural University, University of Horticultural Sciences (Bagalkot) and Pondicherry Central University.
He has published 9 books with ISBN, 5 text books for Open and Distance Learning Programs of TNAU, Coimbatore, 65 research articles in reputed scientific journals, 105 popular articles in popular magazines and newspapers, 45 chapters in reputed books with ISBN and 60 abstracts in the proceedings of seminars and conferences.

He was associated in the conduct of International training programme on Agro-forestry for the experts from Asia and African countries funded by World Agroforestry Regional Centre, New Delhi as co-organizer. He has participated and presented papers in 47 national and 10 international conferences and 30 webinars related to horticulture, medicinal plants and life sciences. He attended 10 training programmes related to horticulture, life sciences and education technologies. He served as organizing committee member for various conferences, workshops and training programmes organized by Tamil Nadu Agricultural University.

He is a recipient of the Junior Scientist Award (2006), Certificate of Excellence Award (2008), Best poster presentation award (2011), Best Tamil Book Award (2012), Best presentation award (2013 & 2015),  Best Outstanding Scientist National Award (2020) for his research contributions.
At present, he is actively involved in the Farmers Participatory Contractual Seed Production Programme and ICAR All India Coordinated Research Project on Vegetable Crops.

Unit I - Fundamentals of Horticulture, Unit II - Growth and Development of Horticultural Crops,Unit III - Propagation of Horticultural Crops, Unit IV - Management Techniques for Horticultural Crops,Unit V - Production Technology of Fruit Crops