Staggered and continuous fructification pruning in guava trees in the Southwest of Mato Grosso do Sul

Abstract: Guava is one of the fruit trees with good economic returns. The aim with this study was to evaluate the production and fruit quality of five guava cultivars (Tailandesa, Cortibel SLG, Cortibel RM, Cortibel RG, and Paluma) submitted to staggered and continuous production pruning, in the bioclimatic conditions of Southwest Mato Grosso do Sul. The experiment was conducted during the year 2019/2020/2021, performing two production pruning (PP1 and PP2). In each production pruning, eight fructification pruning were carried out, with an interval of 30 days, namely: in PP1 (October/2019, November/2019, December/2019, January/2020, February/2020, March/2020, April/2020 and May/2020); and in PP2 (June/2020, July/2020, August/2020, September/2020, October/2020, November/2020, December/2020 and January/2021). Statistical analyzes were performed within each production period, not comparing the effects of these. The means were compared using the Tukey test for cultivars and the Scott-Knott test for staggered pruning. Higher yield values were observed in PP1 of the Tailandesa and Cortibel RM cultivar, in the pruning of October/2019 and January/2020. In PP2, the productivity of all cultivars was higher than in PP1, especially Cortibel RM and Tailandesa, with higher yields and lower amounts of non-marketable fruits in the pruning of November and December/2020 and January/2021. The fruits were classified as oblong and with quality for commercialization. Continuous staggered pruning, and Tailandesa and Cortibel RM cultivars are promising for cultivation in Southwest MS.