Performance of different levels of pruning on yield and quality of Guava (Psidium guajava L.) Var. Sardar

Abstract

The present investigation entitled “Effect of different levels of pruning on growth, yield and quality of guava (Psidium guajava L.) Var. Sardar was undertaken on eight year old guava plants at the Instructional-Cum-Research Farm, Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, Latur during 2012-13. The experiment was laid out in Randomised Block Design with seven treatments replicated thrice. The treatments comprises retention of main trunk upto 1 m along with primary branches 1 m and secondary branches 0.50 m. (T1), retention of main trunk upto 1 m along with primary branches 1 m and secondary branches 1 m. (T2), heading back of tertiary branches at 25% (T3), heading back of tertiary branches at 33% (T4), heading back of tertiary branches at 50% (T5), heading back of tertiary branches at 75% (T6) and control (T7). The results of the present study indicated significant differences with respect toquality parameters like maximum fruit weight, diameter of fruit, volume of fruit, TSS, ascorbic acid content, reducing sugars and sugar: acidity ratio were recorded in the treatment of (T1) retention of main trunk upto 1m along with primary branches 1 m and secondary branches 0.50m. and the treatment (T2) retention of main trunk upto 1 m along with primary branches 1m and secondary branches 1 m. While maximum no. of shoots per plant, minimum days required for flowering, minimum days required from pruning to fruit set, days from fruit set to harvesting, maximum no. of fruits per tree and maximum yield were recorded in 50%, 33%, and 25% heading back of tertiary branches.Pruning practice in guava with heading back of tertiary branches at 50%, 33% and 25% are beneficial for obtaining maximum yield and quality fruits.