Estimating the Morphological Variability of Guava (Psidium guajava L.) Genotypes in Jabalpur District, India

Abstract

As variability is crucial for crop improvement, it is better to characterise several genotypes that are derived from either seedlings or wild types. This research facilitates the identification of cultivars, genotypes and the elimination of identical plants within populations. The study was conducted in year 2022-23 with thirty-three guava genotypes of Jabalpur district to examine various morphological characteristics such as tree height, trunk girth and canopy diameter, branching attitude, stem colour in young shoots, branching density, mature leaf colour, leaf shape, leaf base shape, leaf tip shape, leaf curvature and leaf twisting. The experimental investigation was carried out at the Fruit Research Station, Imaliya, under the Department of Horticulture at the College of Agriculture, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh. Genotypes exhibited notable diversity in their morphological traits with respect to height, gith, canopy and several leaf-based characteristics. For the estimation of diversity, the DUS guideline of UPOV was followed. All the genotypes in this study aged between eight to thirteen years. Descriptive statistics showed that, the height of the trees varied between 2.78m (JG-322) and 6.12m (JG-325). The trunk girth ranged between 27.21cm (JG-314) to 87.23cm (JG-319). The canopy in the east-west direction ranged from 4m (JG-325) to 8.34m (JG-322) whereas, in north-south direction varied 3.68m (JG-325) to 8.41m (JG-322). The observed diversity in these traits yielded significant insights that might drive the selection of parental plants for an advanced guava breeding initiative.