GENOTYPIC AND SEASONAL VARIABIILTY IN GUAVA FRUIT QUALITY AND IMPLICATIONS FOR BREEDING.

Guava (Psidium guajava L.) fruit physical and chemical characterization was performed across six distinct summer and winter seasons (Year I-III) in two elite cultivars (Round and Pyriform) to assess genotypic and seasonal variations and their correlations with the key environmental components. A strong negative correlation was found between in temperature with ratio fruit length to fruit diameter (FL:FD), total sugars (%) and rain fall with fruit weight, seed cavity weight and total sugars (%). Relative humidity (%) and sunshine (hrs) were positively correlated to fruit weight and ratio TSS:TA suggesting existence of a higher genotype × environment interplay which regulated contrasting changes in fruit traits. Most of the physical and chemical traits were higher in cv. Pyriform compared with cv. Round. Fruit produced in winter seasons had markedly better physical and chemical attributes compared with that of summer seasons. However, acid contents were higher during summer seasons. Traits like reducing sugars and ratio flesh weight and seed cavity weight (FlW:SCW) remained stable across contrasting summer and winter seasons over the years in both cultivars. Assessment of guava fruit physicochemical traits across multiple seasons provided precise estimates of genetic, seasonal and annual variations which could be useful in selection of parental material for future guava breeding and biotechnology applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]