Morpho-biochemical characterization of Psidium species

Abstract

Several Psidium species are available with many important traits, lack of intensive characterization limits their use in guava improvement. Therefore, the present study was carried out to characterize five wild Psidium species (P. molle, P. chinensis, P. guineense, P. cattleianum var. cattleianum and P. cattleianum var. lucidum) and two P. guajava genotypes (cv. ‘Arka Poorna’ and ‘H 12-5’), based on morphological and biochemical traits. Among morphological traits, fruit weight was ranged from 5.22 g (P. cattleianum var. cattleianum) to 225.14 g (‘H 12-5’), however, among biochemical traits, highest TSS (12.06 ºBrix) and total sugars (9.98%) were recorded in cv. ‘Arka Poorna’, while, lowest recorded in P. cattleianum var. lucidum. Highest ascorbic acid was recorded in P. chinensis (205.33 mg/100 g), whereas, lowest recorded in P. guineense (60.83 mg/100 g). A positive correlation was observed among wild Psidium species but none had correlation with P. guajava genotypes for quantitative traits.