S ESWARA REDDY

Kingdom: Division: Class:

Plantae Magnoliophyta Magnoliopsida

Subclass:
Order: Family: Subfamily: Tribe: Genus:

Rosidae
Myrtales Myrtaceae Myrtoideae Myrteae Psidium

Guava is a subtropical crop. It is one of the most common and major fruits of India and considered the fourth most important fruit in area and production after mango, banana, and citrus. It is a hardy and prolific bearer and highly remunerative fruit. Guava is native to tropical America and seems to have been growing from Mexico to Peru. It is believed to be introduced in to India during early 17th century. In A.P it is commercially grown in Telengana, North coastal districts and Ananthapur in Rayalaseema.

COMMON GUAVA, PER 165 g. OF INDIVIDUAL FRUIT PORTION

Calories Moisture Dietary Fiber Protein Fat Ash Carbohydrates Calcium Phosphorus Iron Potassium Copper Beta-carotene (Vitamin A) Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) Thiamin (Vitamin B1) Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) Niacin (Vitamin B3) Folic acid 112 kcal. 133 g 8.9 g (36%) 4.2 g (8%) 1.6 g (2%) 2.3 g 23.6 g (8%) 30 mg (3%) 66 mg (7%) 0.4 mg (2%) 688 mg (20%) 0.4 mg (19%) 1030 IU (21%) 377 mg (628%) 0.1 mg (7%) 0.1 mg (4%) 1.8 mg (9%) 81 mcg (20%)

Guava cultivation can be extended to varying agro-climatic regions owing to wider adaptability. Guava can be successfully cultivated both under tropical and subtropical conditions. It does well up to an altitude of 1,000-1,500 meters. It grows best with an annual rainfall below 100cm restricted between June-September.

Places having more than 250cm rainfall are not suitable for guava. Under heavy rains and high relative humidity brings down the quality of fruits. Optimum temperature requirement is 2328 C. The areas having distinct winter season, is considered best for increasing yield and improving quality. The humid conditions lead to luxuriant growth of the trees and yield fruits of poor quality.

It can be grown as rain fed as well as irrigated crop depending upon agro climatic conditions. At the time of flowering and fruiting, it requires dry climate. High temperature and high velocity winds at fruit development period lead to heavy fruit drop.

Guava adapts well to a wide range of soils. Well-drained, light sandy loam to clay soils is good. Since it is a hardy fruit crop, it can be grown on alkaline soils wastelands etc. It is sensitive to waterlogged conditions. It tolerates a wide range of pH from 4.5 to 8.5.If the soils are having a pH of 7.5 and above there are more chances of getting guava wilt. Some varieties like Lucknow- 49 can be grown in saline soils also.

Basically basing on seed content in guava there are two types

SEEDLESS VARIETY

SEEDED VARIETY

They are triploids with irregular shape and low productivity and plants are very vigorous in growth. Hence, unfit for commercial cultivation. Two types of fruits, completely seedless and partly seeded, are borne on a plant of seedless variety. The completely seedless fruits develop on the shoots arising from the stem and these are bigger in size and irregular in shape. The partly seeded fruits are borne on normal shoots at the periphery and are small in size and round in shape. The important seedless varieties are -NAGPUR SEEDLESS, SAHARANPUR SEEDLESS.

Seeded guavas are more commercial, high yields with excellent quality. The seeded guavas are diploids. Seeds range from 250-500 / fruit. Based on colour of the flesh again there are two typesWhite fleshed and red fleshed. Among these two, white fleshed are more common and red-fleshed are less common.

1) 2) 3) 4) 5)

Allahabad safeda, Lucknow-49, Arka Mridula Red fleshed and Allahabad Surkha etc.

SAEFD JAM: This is a hybrid variety released from Fruit research station, Sangareddy (A.P.). It is a cross between Allahabad Safeda and Kohir. Fruit size is bigger with less seed and vitamin C is more in comparison to their parents. KOHIR SAFEDA: It is cross between Kohir and Allahabad safeda . Fruit is large in size, slightly acidic. Yield 300 fruits per tree.

Other varieties like Nasik, Dharwar, Apple colour, Banarasi, Hafsi, Anakapalli, Harijha and Chiitdar etc. are also considered as good cultivars.

SAEFD JAM
KOHIR SAFEDA

Guava can be propagated both by seed and vegetaively. SEED PROPAGATION

It is still common to raise commercial orchards by propagation from seeds. This practice is not advisable because this would lead to lot of variation among trees in fruit size, yield and quality. Hence, it is very important to plant an orchard only with vegetaively propagated plants of known variety.

Air Layering or Ground Layering can be practiced for multiplication of guava plants and the best time for doing this is rainy season. It is more commonly practiced in SOUTH INDIA. It is very convenient, cheap and easy method. The layered plant being on its own roots grows more vigorously and establishes quickly even in difficult soil conditions. Pot Layering is practiced in TELENGANA AREA.

Regarding budding, shield or patch budding is generally practiced and the best time is May-June. Inarching is another common method of vegetative propagation and it is good to do it in the month of July-August for high success. Propagation of Guava by cuttings under ordinary conditions is not successful. It is only successful under intermittent mist conditions with the aid of rooting hormones like IBA and NAA. Hence, propagation through cuttings is not generally followed.

Some times stooling is practiced but the success is very poor, so it is not generally followed. Guava can also be propagated through root suckers but it not possible to obtain large number of suckers to raise orchards. The commercial method of propagation for guava is air layering / pot layering or inarching

Guava is a hardy plant and generally it doesnt require much irrigation. But the yield and quality improve markedly by irrigation in summer. The young guava plants need irrigation at weekly interval during summer months and 2-3 irrigations during winter months.

Just after transplanting, watering is necessary in the absence of rains. For bearing trees irrigations are needed for flowering and better fruit setting. Fruit size is reduced, if sufficient soil moisture is not maintained. Irrigation is also required to check excessive fruit drop during summer months.

Seedling guava trees require 4-5 years to bear, while vegetatively propagated plants start bearing from third year after planting. The fruits turn greenish yellow with the approach of maturity are considered ready for harvesting. Guava fruits mature for harvesting after 45 months of anthesis. However it depends upon the climatic conditions and variety.

Fruits on ripening give excellent taste and flavour characteristic of a particular variety. The fruits should be harvested immediately when it is mature, because it cannot be retained on the tree in ripe stage. Mature or half ripe fruits are preferred for consumption. Hand picking at regular intervals is suggested to avoid possible damage to fruits instead of shaking the tree. The fruits should not be allowed to over ripen on the trees as they deteriorate in quality and are more liable to be damaged by birds. Individual fruits are picked when they are still hard and firm at regular intervals

HARVESTED GUAVAS

The yield of guava varies due to different varieties, age of the plants, fruiting season and orchard management practices etc. Seedling tree of guava of 10 years old yields about 400-500 fruits. Grafted tree yields 1000-2000 fruits where as good orchard yields about 25-30 tonnes per hectare.

PICTURE GALLERY

PRODUCTS FROM GUAVA