Journal of Applied Horticulture. 2001: 3(2): 100-102

Influence of pruning date on fruit quality of guava (Psidium guajava L.)

Singh, A K; Gorakh Singh

Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture, Rehmankhera, P.O. Kakori, Lucknow - 227 107, India.

The effects of pruning date on the fruit quality of 16-year-old trees of guava cultivars Sardar and Allahabad Safeda were studied in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India. In 1991-93, pruning was conducted on the first week of February, March, April, May, or June. Sardar and Allahabad Safeda recorded the highest fruit weight (266.66 and 201.10 g), fruit length (7.81 and 6.89 cm), and fruit diameter (7.40 and 7.17 cm) when pruning was conducted in May. The highest total soluble solid (TSS) content was observed when Sardar trees were pruned in June (11.73 degrees Brix), and when Allahabad Safeda trees were pruned in May and June (12.16 and 12.43 degrees Brix, respectively). Pruning in May and June gave the highest ascorbic acid content in Sardar (334.54 and 354.79 mg/100 g, respectively) and Allahabad Safeda (237.28 and 258.98 mg/100 g, respectively). In 1994-95, pruning on the 15th and 30th of April, May, or June were evaluated. The highest ascorbic acid content was recorded for Sardar pruned on 30 May (308.64 mg/100 g), 15 June (300.17 mg/100 g), and 30 June (308.21 mg/100 g), and for Allahabad Safeda pruned on 30 May (208.21 mg/100 g) and 15 June (205.33 mg/100 g). TSS did not significantly vary among pruning dates. In both trials, the effect of pruning date on acidity percentage was not significant.