Studies on Morpho physiological and Biochemical Diversity of Guava Genotypes of Jabalpur Region

Abstract

A experiment entitled Studies on morpho-physiological and biochemical diversity of Guava (Psidium guajava L.) genotypes of Jabalpur region was conducted in two consecutive years 2022-23 and 2023-24 at the Department of Horticulture College of Agriculture, JNKVV, Jabalpur (M.P.). A total of thirty-three guava genotypes were included in the investigation. In a crop development approach, the efficacy of selection depends on the variety and correlation of features within the population. The evaluation of genotypes included several aspects, such as tree, leaf, blooming, fruiting, yield, biochemical, spectral features and disease-free genotype. Considerable variation was reported in all the qualitative character of tree and leaf like Attitude of branching, young shoot colour of stem, branching density, trunk surfaced, leaf colour leaf shape, curvature and twisting. Also in fruit, wide range of variability was observed in fruit shape, pericarp colour, pulp colour, longitudinal ridges andgrooves and thickness of outer pulp in retention to core diameter.The genotype JG-309 was found superior in respect to higher TSS (13.61 o Brix) and minimum acidity (0.25%), JG-330 for higher Ascorbic Acid content (294.56 mg/100g) and JG-325 for high reducing sugar (5.78%).Genotype JG-312 showed maximum fruit width (83.94mm), core diameter (48.57mm), average weight (317.53g), minimum seed % (0.98) and high pulp % (99.02). The yield was recorded highest in JG-307 (74.92 kg/plant) against check variety Allahabad Safeda, L -49 and Chittidar. Genotype JG-309 and JG-305 showed early flowering whereas early maturity was found in JG- 306 (118 days) followed by JG-305 (120 days). Fruit yield per plant was proved significantly correlated with tree height, canopy diameter, number of floral bud per shoot, fruit length, fruit width, core diameter, fruit weight, pulp% and number of fruit per plant. On the basis of spectral parameters, maximum Chlorophyll content index (41.31), NDVI (0.71) and Leaf area index (3.65) was recorded in JG-312 while maximum f-PAR (0.95) in JG-324. Yield shows significant correlation with NDVI, CCI, fPAR and LAI. For PC1, genotype JG-303, JG-312, Allahabad Safeda and L-49 shows highest contribution for variability (27.22%) of traits ie. Yield per plant, Average weight of fruits, Number of fruits, Fruit weight, Fruit length and canopy diameter. newline