Assessment of reaction of guava germplasm against fruit fly and castor capsule borer

The variation in fruit fly damage was significant at lower sampling number of 10 or 20 fruits/tree. The damage range narrowed as the number of fruits per tree was increased and 50 fruits could be an appropriate sample for assessing B. dorsalis and Dichocrocis punctiferalis (Guenee) damage on different guava cultivars. The effect of height of tree on B. dorsalis incidence revealed that bottom (upto 5 ft height) and middle portion (5–7.5 ft) of Sardar guava did not vary significantly. Height of the tree also not showed any effect on castor capsule borer damage. The central trees had the maximum B. dorsalis infestation. B. dorsalis damage increased as the diameter and maturity of the fruit increased. Size and maturity of fruit did not affect castor capsule borer incidence. B. dorsalis incidence on different white fleshed cultivars/genotypes revealed that fruit damage ranged from 37.2 to 53.5 percent. Commercially recommended cultivars viz., Sardar, Allahabad Sufeda and Arka Amulya also had high incidence of fruit fly. Bangalore Selection 6/10, Shillong-1 and Bangalore Selection 6/12 had significantly less fruit damage compared to other guava cultivars/genotypes. Coloured genotypes had the lowest castor capsule borer damage. The fruit damage by fruit fly and castor capsule borer did not show any correlation with fruit breadth, fruit length, palatability rating, pulp, TSS, acidity, vitamin C and total sugars.