Biochemical characterization of custard apple genotypes

Abstract

The present investigation was undertaken biochemical 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 biochemical traits. When evaluating a fruit for consumer acceptance a breeder is not concerned with soluble solids alone but with perceived sweetness, which is determined largely by the relative levels of total soluble solids and acids in the fruits. The TSS showed distinct variation among the genotypes and ranged from 19.37 to 28.53 0B, acidity of pulp varied from 0.18 to 0.34 per cent, TSS: acidity ratio ranged from 62.50 to 122.73, total sugar varied from 15.72 to 26.22 per cent and reducing sugars varied from 14.13 to 24.27 per cent. In fruit qualitative characters acidity, TSS, reducing sugar and total sugar pulp 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.