Morphological charecterization of custard apple genotypes

Abstract

The present investigation was undertaken morphological characterization of custard apple (Annona squamosa L.) during year 2014 - 17 at All India Coordinated Research Project on Arid Zone Fruit Crops, MPKV, Rahuri and AICRP on Custard apple and Fig, Jadhavwadi, Dist. Pune. The experiment was laid out in Randomized block design with 29 selected genotypes as the treatments with three replications. The experimental results showed that the large variability was present in custard apple genotypes for morphological traits. The leaf length ranged from 6.87 to 13.57 cm, leaf width varied from 2.50 to 6.90 cm and petiole length varied from 0.50 to 1.53 cm. Maximum genotypes showed lanceolate leaf blade shape, petal length varied from 1.23 to 3.80 cm and petal width ranged from 0.40 to 0.97 cm. In fruit quantitative characters length, breadth, weight and rind percent was recorded and it varied largely among the genotypes. In all genotypes Bullock Heart, Atemoya, Atemoya Chance Seedling, Mammoth and Arka Sahan recorded highest desirable characters.