PJB-2018-781
IMPACT OF SEASONAL SHIFTS ON FRUIT GROWTH AND QUALITY IN GUAVA
Muhammad Usman
Abstract
Guava (Psidium guajava L.) fruit physical and chemical characterization was performed across distinct summer and winter seasons in two elite cultivars to assess genotypic and seasonal variations and their correlations with the key environmental components. A strong negative correlation was found in temperature with ratio FL:FD, total sugars (%) and rain fall with fruit weight, seed cavity weight and total sugars (%). Relative humidity (%) and sun shine (hrs) were positively correlated to fruit weight and ratio TSS:TA suggesting existence of a higher genotype x environment interplay which regulated contrasting changes in fruit traits. Most of the physical and chemical traits were higher in cv. Pyriform compared with cv. Round. Winter seasons, produced fruit with markedly better physical and chemical attributes compared with summer seasons. However, acid contents were higher during summer seasons. Better fruit quality attributes were observed during year III with lower temperatures, higher relative humidity and shorter day length. Reducing sugar content (%) remained more stable across contrasting summer and winter seasons over the years in both cultivars. Assessment of guava fruit physico-chemical traits across multiple seasons provided precise estimates of genetic and seasonal variations which could be useful in future guava breeding and biotechnology applications.
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