Guava Cultivation

Introduction

• Guava is a common but important commercial fruit crop of India.
• It is native to Central America.
• Grows well in tropical and subtropical climates.
• It is a rich source of Vitamin C, Pectin, along with Calcium and Phosphorus.
• Guava ranks as the fourth most important fruit crop in India after Mango, Banana, and Citrus.
• It is widely grown all over India; major producing states include Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra.

Botanical and Agronomic Aspects

• Botanical Name: Psidium guajava
• Family: Myrtaceae
• Chromosome Number: 2n = 22
• Origin: Central America
• Climate: Guava thrives in tropical and subtropical climates, tolerating high temperatures and drought conditions. It can be cultivated up to 1,500 meters above mean sea level .
• Soil: Prefers well-drained, fertile soils with a pH range of 5.0 to 7.5. Avoid heavy clay soils with excessive moisture .

Production Statistics

• Area Under Cultivation: Approximately 264.85 thousand hectares in India.
• Annual Production: Around 4,053.51 thousand metric tons.
• Major Producing States: Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu .

Soil Requirements

• Guava grows well in soils with a pH range of 6.5 to 7.5.
• Best results are obtained in deep, well-drained, sandy loam to clay loam soils.

Popular Varieties and Characteristics

• Punjab Pink, Medium to large-sized fruit. Attractive skin, turns golden yellow in summer. TSS: 10.5% to 12%. Yield: Average 155 kg/tree.
• Allahabad Safeda, Dwarf variety with a round crown and spreading branches. TSS: 10% to 12%. Yield: Average 145 kg/tree.
• Arka Amulya; Large, smooth, round fruit with white flesh. TSS: 9.3% to 10.1%. Yield: Average 144 kg/tree.
• Sardar (L-49), Dwarf with spreading branches. TSS: 10% to 12%. Yield: 130 to 155 kg/tree.
• Punjab Safeda; Creamy white flesh. Contains 4% sugar, 0.62% sourness.
• Punjab Kiran; Pink flesh. Contains 3% sugar.
• Shweta; Yield: Average 151 kg/tree.
• Nigiski, Yield: Average 80 kg/tree.
• Punjab Soft, Yield: Average 85 kg/tree.

Other State Varieties

• Allahabad Surkha; Seedless variety. Large fruit with uniform pink flesh.
• Apple Guava; Named for its apple-like appearance.
• Chittidar; Popular in Uttar Pradesh. Similar to Allahabad Safeda, but has red dots on skin. Higher TSS than Allahabad Safeda and L-49.

Varieties

• Allahabadi Surkha: Known for its deep pink flesh and apple-red skin. The fruit is sweet, strongly flavored, with few seeds, and is slightly depressed at both ends. Cultivated mainly in the Allahabad region of Uttar Pradesh .
• Arka Kiran: A red-fleshed hybrid variety developed by the Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR), suitable for table consumption and processing .
• Arka Mridula: A soft-seeded variety with high yield potential.
• Pant Prabhat: Early maturing variety with medium-sized fruits.
• Lalit: Semi-dwarf variety suitable for high-density planting.

• Time of Planting; February–March or August–September are optimum for planting guava.
• Spacing; Use spacing of 6 x 5 m., With 7 m spacing in a square system, approximately 132 plants can be accommodated per acre.

Method of Sowing

• Direct sowing
• Transplanting method
• Budding
• Rootstock raising

• Propagation, Guava is commonly propagated through budding or air layering. Sardar variety seeds are tolerant to wilt and are used for raising rootstock.
• Intercropping; In the initial 3–4 years, vegetables like carrot, okra, brinjal, and radish can be grown. Leguminous crops like gram and beans can also be sown as intercrops.

Propagation and Planting

• Propagation Methods:
  • Seed Propagation: Common for rootstock development.
  • Vegetative Propagation: Techniques include air layering, inarching, and budding, which help maintain true-to-type characteristics.
• Planting Time: Optimal planting periods are during the monsoon (June–August) and spring (February–March) seasons.
• Spacing: Recommended spacing is 6 x 5 meters. With a 7-meter spacing in a square system, approximately 132 plants can be accommodated per acre .

Pest Management

• Fruit Fly (Bactrocera spp.): Causes significant damage by laying eggs in fruits, leading to larval infestation. Management: Use of pheromone traps, timely harvesting, and field sanitation.
• Aphids: Suck sap from tender shoots, leading to curling and distortion. Management: Spraying with neem-based insecticides or insecticidal soaps.
• Mealybugs and Scale Insects: Feed on plant sap, weakening the plant. Management: Application of systemic insecticides and maintaining orchard hygiene .

Disease Management

• Wilt: Caused by Fusarium spp., leading to yellowing and wilting of leaves. Management: Use of resistant rootstocks and proper drainage.
• Anthracnose (Dieback): Characterized by dark spots on shoots and fruits, leading to rotting. Management: Pruning infected parts and applying appropriate fungicides.
• Algal Leaf Spot: Caused by Cephaleuros virescens, resulting in orange-brown spots on leaves. Management: Pruning affected areas and improving air circulation .

Post-Harvest Handling

• Harvesting: Fruits are harvested when they attain full size and start to change color.
• Storage: Guava has a short shelf life; therefore, prompt marketing or processing is essential.
• Processing: Guava is used to make jams, jellies, juices, and purees.