Improvement in guava (Psidium guajava L.) -A review

Guava (Psidiurn guajava L.) is an important commercial fruit crop cultivated in both tropical and subtropical regions of the Indian sub-continent. It belongs to the family Myrtaceae that also includes other agriculturally important minor and major plants that yield economic products. The Allahabad Safeda and Sardar are the main cultivars grown in India since long time. The crop improvement through selection, introduction and hybridization was attempted in India and many other countries. This result in development of the several superior quality varieties and hybrids for table and processing purposes. But now the problems that are faced in the guava cultivation are guava wilt disease, fruit fly, hard and more seed, poor shelf life, ununiform fruit shape and size. So to solve these problems, it is very important to create genetic variability in guava germplasm. There is need to develop season stable uniform apple coloured cultivars valuable for local as well as export markets that may prove highly remunerative to the fruit growers. Primarily the task of germplasm collections, evaluation, characterization, and maintenance of genotypes of specific trait has to be made. There is urgent need to evolve and screen varieties and rootstock that are resistant to wilt, anthracnose, fruit fly, drought and frost. The priority in improvement may be given to high quality fruit Le. fruit shape, size, high TSS, good sugar-acid blend, good aroma, attractive skin, flesh colour, free core, soft seeds, keeping quality, stable juice colour, high vitamin C and good pectin content.