Evaluation of Fruit Growth and Development of Guava Varieties (Psidium guajava L.) under the Agro-climatic Conditions of Gunupur, Odisha, India

Abstract

Guava is an important tropical fruit crop in India valued for its nutrition and adaptability. However, its growth and fruit development vary among varieties and depend on local environmental conditions. In Gunupur, Odisha, limited information is available on suitable guava cultivars, making varietal evaluation necessary to identify better-performing types for improved growth and yield. An investigation into the growth and development of the fruits of guava (Psidium guajava L.) varieties was conducted during 2025–26 at the School of Agriculture, GIET University, Gunupur, Odisha. The study involved the evaluation of the fruit growth of four guava varieties, namely Lucknow-49 (L-49), Allahabad Safeda, Banaras Red, and KG-1, at different developmental stages of fruits under the prevailing agro-climatic conditions of the region. The Study was conducted in uniform trees of seven years old in a completely randomised design with six replications.  Observations were recorded on fruit length, diameter, volume, and average weight at five distinct stages: pea, gooseberry, lime, mature, and ripening stages. The results revealed that fruit growth parameters increased progressively from the pea stage to maturity in all varieties, followed by a slight decline in weight from maturity to the ripening stage. No significant variation among varieties was observed during the early stages of development; however, significant differences emerged at later stages. L-49 and KG-1 exhibited superior fruit size and volume at maturity and ripening stages.  L-49 recorded the highest fruit length (9.72 cm), diameter (9.08 cm), volume (416.05 cm³), and weight (260.89 g) at the ripening stage. The variation among varieties was attributed to differences in physiological efficiency, source–sink relationship, and assimilate accumulation. The findings indicate that L-49 and KG-1 are better suited for cultivation under Gunupur conditions due to their superior growth performance and fruit development characteristics.