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Essay on Guava
Essay Contents:
- Essay on the Origin and History of Guava
- Essay on the Area and Production of Guava
- Essay on the Importance and Uses of Guava
- Essay on the Choice of Varieties of Guava
- Essay on the Insect-Pests of Guava
- Essay on the Diseases of Guava
Essay # 1. Origin and History of Guava:
Guava (Psidium guajava Linn) is a tropical fruit but also grows well under sub-tropical conditions. Popularly it is known as ‘Apple of Tropics.’ It is one of the most common and major fruit of India and considered the fifth most important fruit in area and production after mango, citrus, banana and apple.
Guava is hardy, prolific bearer and highly remunerative fruit. It is found favour with the fruit growers due to its wide adaptability and higher return per unit area. Guava is such a fruit which is grown all over the country in the kitchen gardening, near the well and tube-well premises and on a commercial scale.
Guava is native to Central America and seems to have been growing from Mexico to Peru. It is believed to be introduced in India since early 17th century. Guava is cultivated on commercial scale in Mexico, Peru, Egypt, India, South Africa, USA, Algeria, Brazil, Columbia, West Indies, etc.
Essay # 2. Area and Production of Guava:
India rank first in guava production in the world followed by Pakistan. The other countries producing guava are Thailand, Indonesia, China, Mexico, Brazil, Philippines, Bangladesh and Nigeria.
In India, guava occupies an area of 2.20 lakh hectares with annual production of 25.10 lakh tonnes and accounting for 3.33 per cent each of area and production. Maharashtra is the largest producer of guava accounting for 12.8 per cent followed by Madhya Pradesh (10.2%), Uttar Pradesh (10.0%) and Bihar (9.76%) although best quality guava is produced in Uttar Pradesh.
The district of Allahabad has a reputation of growing the best guava in the country and in the world. In India, guava is widely grown in Maharashtra, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Assam.
In Punjab, guava is cultivated on large scale in the entire district. It ranks second in cultivation after citrus. Total area in the state is 8072 hectares. Whereas the annual production is 177570 tonnes. The districts of Patiala, Ludhiana, Sangrur, SAS Nagar, Ferozepur, Jalandhar, Muktsar, Bathinda, Ropar and Amritsar are known for guava cultivation.
Export Potential:
India has exported 1382 metric tonnes guavas and earned foreign exchange of Rs. 3.18 crores during the year 2011-12. The guava fruit is exported mainly to Saudi Arabia, Netherlands, Yemen Republic, UAE, Bahrain, Maldives, Qatar, Switzerland and Japan. The major share of fruits to the tune of 59.6 per cent was exported to Saudi Arabia.
Essay # 3. Importance and Uses of Guava:
Guava is the rich source of vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin B2 (riboflavin) and minerals like calcium, phosphorus and iron. The vitamin C content of guava fruit is four-five times higher than the citrus fruits. The quality of winter season fruit is considered superior than rainy season fruit. The ripe fruit of Sardar guava (winter season) contains 13.29 per cent total soluble solids, 0.33 per cent acidity, 4.64 per cent reducing sugars, 7.87 per cent total sugars, 1.11 per cent starch, 200-300 mg/100 g ascorbic acid and 1.15 per cent pectin. TSS-acid ratio of Allahabad Safeda is 42:1 and 39:1 in rainy season and winter season crop, respectively. In Lucknow-49, this ratio is 58:1 in rainy season crop and 40:1 in winter season crop.
Guava fruits are used for making juice, jam, jellies and various culinary purposes. The fruit can be canned in sugar syrup. The leaves of guava have been used for curing diarrhoea. Guava fruit contain antioxidant factors and is known to control systolic blood pressure.
Essay # 4. Choice of Varieties of Guava:
The following are the important varieties of guava cultivated throughout the country:
i. Allahabad Safeda:
This variety has dwarf tree with a compact, globose, round crown and drooping branches. Tree height is 4.5 – 6 metres, growth upright to spreading, branches heavy with dense foliage, tendency to produce long shoot. Leaves large slightly folded, elliptical to ovate oblong, apex and base obtuse with entire margin. Fruits are medium, roundish and slightly depressed at both ends, surface smooth, glossy, skin colour straw yellow. It has thin dots, medium scattered.
Calyx medium closed, cavity shallow. Pulp soft to melting, white, flavour very pleasant, taste very sweet, fruit quality excellent, with 10-12 per cent T.S.S. Seeds about 310 and viable. It bears heavily. In full grown trees, the fruit yield may vary from 120 to 140 kg per tree.
ii. Sardar (Lucknow – 49):
It is a selection from Allahabad Safeda made by Dr. G.S. Cheema at Pune. The tree is dwarf, height 6-7 metres, growth upright, spreading, somewhat flattened top, dense foliage, branching heavily. Leaves are medium, leathery and folded, ovate oblong, apex obtuse, base round. Fruits are medium to large, weight about 182. g, form roundish ovate, rough surface having few ribs on it, skin colour straw yellow, thin dots medium close, base round, apex flat. Calyx large open, cavity shallow. Pulp crispy, soft, cream white, flavour slightly acidic, taste acidic sweet, quality excellent with 10-12 percent TSS. Seeds number about 340, viable and bearing heavy. In full grown tree, the fruit yield may vary from 125 kg to 150 kg per tree.
iii. Arka Amulya:
It is a hybrid of Seedless X Allahabad Sufeda. The trees are somewhat dwarf with compact, round crown and drooping branches with dense foliage. The fruit is large, round, glossy with white flesh, containing semi-soft seeds. The average yield of rainy and winter season crop is 144 kg per tree. The total soluble solids in fruits range from 9.3 to 10.1 per cent and acidity from 0.25 to 0.34 per cent.
iv. Punjab Pink:
It is a hybrid between Portugal X L – 49 = F1 X Apple Colour developed at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana. The trees of this variety are vigorous with drooping branches. The fruit is medium to large in size with attractive red skin sometimes in summer season and golden yellow in winter season. The flesh is red having pleasant flavour. The total soluble solids ranged from 10.5 to 12.0 per cent. It is a prolific bearer and the average yield is 150 kg per tree.
v. Shweta:
The variety is a selection from Apple colour and is recently developed by CISH, Lucknow. The trees are semi vigorous with medium height. Fruit medium sized, 195 g in weight and globose in shape. Skin colour is creamy white with red spots or blush. Pulp is snow-white with excellent quality. The fruits are attractive and have good nutritive value. Seeds semi-hard and 350 in number per fruit. The total soluble solids in fruit, ranges from 10.5 to 11.0 per cent. The vitamin C content of fruit is 300 mg per 100 g of pulp. It is a prolific bearer variety yielding 150 kg fruits per tree and has good keeping quality.
vi. Apple Colour:
Tree growth spreading, medium foliage, and branching medium to poor. Leaves are thin, slightly flat, elliptical lanceolate, apex acute and base obtuse. Fruit medium (112g), form round to spherical, surface slightly rough, skin colour red or pinkish, thick dots, base slightly flat, apex round. Calyx large, almost closed, cavity deep. Pulp soft, cream white, flavour pleasant, taste sweet and good in quality. Seeds about 278, viable, bearing is heavy.
vii. Red-Fleshed:
Tree heights are 4.5 to 7.5 metres. Growth upright vigorous, crown uneven, foliage moderately dense, branching medium, barks outer colour grey, inner colour is light green. Leaves medium to large, oblong lanceolate, thin apex and base obtuse, margin slightly wavy, upper colour green, lower dull green.
Fruit medium to large (170 g), ovate roundish, surface smooth glossy, apex flat, skin thick, pinkish yellow with small dots, base round, stalk medium, thin, cavity shallow, sub-epidermal layer reddish yellow. Pulp is pink, soft, flavour pleasant like apricot, taste sweet with a typical flavour. Seeds are small, average number 570, light orange. Fruit quality is medium, bearing medium to heavy.
viii. Seedless:
Tree heights 6.0 – 7.5 metres, growth upright, dense foliage, and branching medium to heavy. Leaves are large, leathery and folded, ovate to oblong elliptic, apex and base obtuse. Fruit medium, pyriform, ovoid, skin colour dull yellow, thin, dots large, scattered; base flat giving apparent indication of fruits being divided into quarters, apex flat. Clayx large, closed, cavity shallow. Pulp firm to soft, white, flavour mild, taste sweet, pulp thickness completely filled, except a shallow cavity in the centre. Poor keeping quality, fruit is seedless. Bearing is poor.
ix. Pear Shaped:
Shape of the fruit is pear like. Fruits are medium to large (140 g). Pulp is soft to melting, creamy white, pleasant flavour and good quality. Bearing is medium.
Lalit, Arka Mridula and Pant Prabhat are other popular varieties of guava.
x. Guava Hybrids:
Six promising hybrids are developed at Fruit Research Station Anantharajupet, Andhra Pradesh. Out of these hybrid H1 (Red Fleshed x Saharanpur Seedless) and H2 (Smooth Green x Nagpur Seedless) are more promising in terms of fruit quality as well as precocity. Two hybrids Safed Jam (Allahabad Safeda x Kohir) and Kohir Safeda (Kohir x Allahabad Safeda) have been released from Fruit Research Station, Sangrareddy. CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar has released two hybrids i.e., Hisar Safeda (Allahabad Safeda x Seedless) and Hisar Surkha (Apple Colour x Banarsi Surkha).
Essay # 5. Insect-Pests of Guava:
1. Fruit Fly (Bactrocera Dorsalis):
Fruit fly is the most common and a serious pest of guava fruits during monsoon. Being polyphagus, it feeds and breeds profusely on various fruit crops. The fly lays eggs at colour break stage of fruits in the soft epicarp. On hatching, the maggots bore further into fruits and feeds on soft pulp. The infested fruits show depressions with dark green puncture and when cut open the wriggling maggots are seen inside. The infested fruits rot and fall down. Pupation takes place in the soil under trees. Isolated orchards are less infested by the fruit fly.
For its control avoid taking rainy season crop in the orchards with history of severe fruit fly infestations. Harvest the ripening fruits and do not allow the ripe fruits on the tree. Regularly remove the fallen fruits from the ground and burry the infested fruits at least at 60 cm depth. Shallow ploughing with cultivator immediately after harvest is effective in exploding and killing the pupating larvae/pupae which are mostly present at 4-6 cm depth.
In infested orchards, spray the trees with 1250 ml (0.05%) Sumicidin 20 EC (fenvalerate) in 500 litres of water at weekly intervals in ripening fruits commencing from July onwards till the rainy season crop is over. Fruits should be harvested on third day after spray. Fix fruit fly traps @ 16 traps per acre in first week of July for the control of fruit fly. Recharge the traps if required.
2. Guava Shoot Borer (Microcolona Technographa):
Shoot borer is serious under nursery conditions. It damages the tender shoots of nursery/adult trees of guava. Side sprouting of the vegetative buds just below the larval gallery impairs the quality of the seedlings as the buds below the damaged portion produce lateral shoots and plants give bushy look. The infested shoots dry up which can be located from a distance by the presence of fine black frass on the leaves/shoot parts beneath the site of infestation.
The pest can be controlled by spraying in nursery with 500 ml (0.1%) Durmet 20 EC (chlorpyriphos) or 400 ml (0.1%) Ekalux 25 EC (quinalphos) in 100 litres of water.
3. Mealy Bugs (Ferrisia Virgata, Planococcus Lilacitius And Nipaecoccus Viridis):
They are causing damage to guava trees. Ferrisia virgata is active in guava orchards during June to October. It is a major species as compared to other mealy bugs. The other two species are causing damage to the trees during July to October. The nymphs of these mealy bugs suck cells sap from the different parts of the plants like leaves, tender shoots, twigs, branches and fruits. Heavy infestation of these pests encourages the growth of sooty mould due to which the leaves, shoots and fruits become black in colour. All these mealy bugs hibernate on the twigs and branches of trees.
Keep the proper sanitation in guava orchard. Monitor regularly the infestation of trees by observing the underside of leaves, young shoots, branches and fruits. Never allow the branches of trees to touch the group. Prune the infested branches and destroy them. Destroy all the ant nests in the orchard. Drench the trees giving spray of 1875 ml durmet/Dursban/Coroban 20EC (Chlorpyriphos) in 500 litres of water immediately after the appearance of pest. Repeat the spray if need arises.
Essay # 6. Diseases of Guava:
1. Wilt:
The disease is caused due to fungus Fusarium sp. or Cephalosporium sp. or Rhizoctonia sp. Symptoms appear on the infested trees many months after their roots are attacked by the fungi. Sparse foliage, denuded branches, the yellowing of leaves and wilting are the important symptoms. In the root, the cambium in between the bark and the wood shows discoloration. Replanted trees bear fruit for a number of years before ultimately succumbing to the disease.
The disease can be controlled by adopting the following measures:
i. Plant guava in a well-drained field. It is advisable to avoid too heavy soils.
ii. Uproot the wilted trees along with all the roots and use as fire wood.
iii. Rain or irrigation water should not be allowed to stand in the basin around the tree.
iv. Drench the soil in the pit with 2 percent formalin solution and cover with sarkanda and old wetted gunny bags. Expose the soil for 14 days and replant healthy guava seedlings.
v. Use Sardar or Portugal cultivars as rootstock for budded plants.
2. Fruit Rot/Anthracnose or Dieback:
The disease is caused by fungus Gloeosporium psidii and Phytophthora parasitica; Rhizopus sp., Aspergilus sp. Fully mature fruits are more prone to the attack of the fungus. Circular, slightly sunken, brown spots with definite margins appear on the fruits. The centre of the lesion has pink sticky spore mass characteristics of the anthracnose disease. Fruits rot completely within 2 to 3 days. The fungus attacks young trees, twigs and branches during the rainy season resulting in the dieback of the shoot from the distal end.
Stagnation of rain or irrigation water should not be allowed in the tree basins. Prune the dead twigs and mummified fruits hanging on the trees. After pruning, spray the trees with 300 g of Blitox or Captan in 100 litres of water.
Repeat the spray after fruit-set and continue spraying at 10-15 day intervals till maturity. Burry deep into the soil the rotted and mummified fruits which, fall on the ground and are unfit for marketing. Avoid bruising of the fruits.