548 Karnataka J. Agric. Sci.,25 (4) : (548-551) 2012 Performance of sapota (Achras sapota L.) varieties and hybrids under Ghataprabha command area* Sapota (Achras sapota L.) commonly known as chiku is mainly cultivated in India for its fruit value, while in South-East Mexico, Guatemala and other countries it is commercially grown for the production of chickle which is a gum like substance obtained from latex and is mainly used for preparation of chewing gum. It belongs to the family Sapotaceae. It is also called by other names, such as chikku, sapota plum, sapodilla or prickly pear. In fruits, peel can also be eaten along with pulp since it is rich in nutritive value than the pulp alone (Gupta et al., 1981). Latex from sapota tree is used in the manufacture of chewing gum in Tropical America. The pulp of sapota when ripe is soft, granular and very sweet. Sapota is an energy rich fruit with high total soluble solids (20-22%) and good source of digestible sugar, and has an appreciable amount of protein, fat, fiber and minerals like calcium, phosphorous, iron (Shanmugavelu and Srinivasan, 1973). In India sapota is commercially grown in the Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Andra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal states. Karnataka is the leading producer of sapota, which is mainly distributed in districts of Bagalkot, Bijapur, Belgum, Dharawad, Kolar, Shimoga, Haveri, Uttar Kannada and Chitradurga,. In Karnataka, it is grown in an area of 2, 93,000 hectares with a production of 3, 60,000 metric tones (Anon., 2010). The cultivation of sapota has attracted many farmers on account of its hardy nature and better adaptability to diverse soil and climatic conditions. Though the area under sapota is increasing day by day, the increase is not up to the expected level. One among the several causes attributed for this is the absence of number of good choice varieties. In this context, an evaluation work was carried out at Kittur Rani Channamma College of Horticulture, Arabhavi (Karnataka) which comes under Ghataprabha command area to study the morphological characters of some genotypes of sapota. An evaluation of sapota genotypes was initiated in 2010-11 with 24 genotypes( 14 genotypes of 15-16 year old and 10 genotypes of 10-11 year old). Each genotype was planted in single row with 10 x 10 m spacing on medium black soil. Fertilizers were applied, in ring method around the tree, with the receipt of canal irrigation (GLBC). The crop is under canal irrigation (basin method) for 7-8 months from July to February, while in remaining period (March to June) the crop is without irrigation water because of canal closure.Observation on vegetative growth, reproductive, yield and quality parameters were recorded during August 2010 in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. The data on vegetative parameters of different genotypes of sapota (15-16 years old) are given in Table 1. Significantly maximum plant height was observed in cv. CO-1 (6.80 m) which was on par with cvs. Gavarayya (6.77 m), Cricket Ball (6.67 m), DHS-1 (6.00 m) and PKM – 3 (5.83 m) and it was it was least in cv. Kalipatti (3.80 m). Significantly maximum stem circumference was observed in cv. DHS-1 (88.67 cm), which was on par with DHS-2 (74.33 cm), Gavarayya(75.33), PKM 2(68.67), Kalipatti (66.67) and minimum stem circumference was noticed in cv. Tagarampudi (39.67 cm). There was a significant difference among the cultivars with respect to tree spread (North-South and East-West). Significantly maximum plant spread was recorded in cv. DHS-2 (8.73 m North-South) which was on par with cvs. Long oval (8.10 m North-South), DHS-1 (8.00 m North- South), CO-2(7.80m)Cricket ball(7.70m) and minimum spread was observed in cv. Kirthbharti (4.60 m North-South). Significantly maximum East-West plant spread was recorded in cv. DHS-1 (8.50 m) which was on par with cv. DHS-2 (8.37 m), Cricket ball(7.9m), CO-2(7.80m) Long oval(7.60m) and CO-1(7.10m) and minimum spread was noticed in cv. Tagarampudi (4.47 m). Table 1. Vegetative parameters of different cultivars of sapota Cultivars** Plant height Stem Tree spread (m) Shoot length Shoot girth Number of leaves (m) circumference (cm) N-S E-W (cm) (cm) per shoot DHS-1 6.00 88.67 8.00 8.50 22.43 4.17 20.33 DHS-2 5.50 74.33 8.73 8.37 23.87 3.57 17.97 PKM-1 4.33 55.33 6.20 6.13 22.07 4.12 15.00 PKM-2 5.50 68.67 5.90 6.90 21.10 3.00 16.67 PKM-3 5.83 66.00 6.33 6.63 23.47 3.51 11.87 CO-1 6.80 60.67 6.83 7.10 25.17 3.60 13.80 CO-2 5.50 47.33 7.80 7.80 23.87 2.50 12.67 Cricket Ball 6.67 62.33 7.70 7.90 25.60 3.38 15.27 Long oval 5.47 59.00 8.10 7.60 22.83 3.60 14.77 Kalipatti 3.80 66.67 6.30 6.40 21.63 2.46 16.17 Gavarayya 6.77 75.33 6.90 7.53 20.90 2.36 11.60 Oval 4.33 65.67 6.43 6.70 20.20 2.64 14.80 Kirthbharti 4.67 42.67 4.60 5.23 24.03 3.57 13.47 Tagarampudi 4.57 39.67 4.73 4.47 20.97 2.90 11.60 S. Em± 0.38 7.89 0.56 0.56 1.13 0.29 1.71 C.D. @ 5% 1.11 22.94 1.64 1.63 3.29 0.84 4.97 C.V. (%) 12.28 21.94 14.51 14.05 8.65 15.55 20.13 **15-16 years old tree * Part of M. Sc. (Hort.) thesis submitted by the first author to the University of Horticultural Sciences, Bagalkot - 587 102, India