Maturity indices and quality attributes during growth and development in guava cultivars ‘shweta’ and ‘lalit’

Abstract

Guava (Psidium guajava L.), grown in the northern plains of India differ in physico-chemical characteristics. However, their standard for maturity, storage and ripening lack specificity. Two cultivars ‘Shweta’ (white pulp) and ‘Lalit’ (pink pulp), were studied for maturity and quality changes from fruit set to and ripening. Two hundred flowers of each cultivars were tagged and 20 fruits were harvested at regular intervals during autumn-winter. Total chlorophyll content of peel and pulp decreased in both the cultivars from 62 to 132 days after fruit set. The total soluble solids (TSS) did not differ significantly. However, the titrable acidity and ascorbic acid content increased during fruit development period of 132 days. The anthocyanin content of peel was higher than that of pulp in both the cultivars. The Lycopene content in pulp of cv. Lalit increased from 62 days and attained maximum at maturity (122 days after fruit set). Higher ascorbic acid with lycopene and early maturing cultivar ‘Lalit’ has scope for fresh fruit consumption as well as for processing.