Evaluation of Guava Genotypes Based on Fruit Mor phology, Physico-chemical Pr operties and Yield 25 Evaluation of Guava (Psidium guajava L.) Genotypes Based on Fruit Morphology, Physico-chemical Properties. and Yield under Eastern Plateau Condition BR Jana, PS Munsi*, DC Mgnna** and Bikash Das !CAR-Research Complex for Eastern Region, Research Cente r, Plandu, Ranchi-834010. Jharkhand *Department of CIHAB, Pallisiksa bhabana, Vi sva-Bharati University, Shantiniketan, West Bengal **Rathindra KVK, Pallisiksa Bhabana, Visva-Bharati University, Shantiniketan, We st Bengal Th i rt y-two guava germplasm were evaluated on the bas is of fruit morpholology, physico-chemica l properties and yield at IC AR Research Complex for Eastern Region, Res earch Center, Ranchi du ring 20 07-08. High yield ing culti vars we re CHG- I, Allahabad Safeda, Mild Fl es h, Sardar and White Flesh. The fruit of CHG- I cul tivar was round shaped with pink flesh and having smooth surface. On the other hand, the fruit of Allahabad Safe da cu ltivar was rou nd shaped and had cre amy pulp and s mooth surface. The fruit · of Sardar and White Flesh cult iv ars were oval shaped and had white pu lp and rough s urf ace. Th e characteristics of Mild Flesh cultivar was round fr uited with white pu lp and smooth surface. With regard to physico-chemical properties of the genotypes, the cultivar Spear Acid accoun ted for the maximum fruit we ight (179.4 g) and ascorbic acid content (265.83 mg/ 100 gm pu lp) whereas the cultivar C HG-5 had higher T.S.S. content of l0.26"B during rainy season. As winter crop, the cultivar Mi ld Flesh recorded the maximum fruit weight of 199.1 g whereas the cultivars See d Drop and Kairnla Seedling exhibited hi ghes t T.S .S . co ntent of l 2.86"B but later had the maximum ascorbic acid content of 358.33 mg/JOO gm pulp. The only cultivar Ba rbadose Superior did not produ ce fruit du ring winte r. Duri ng summer season, six cultivars, viz. Mild Flesh, Seed Drop, Surkh Gudi , CHG- I, CHG-2 and Eskwa la brought forth fruit. Th e cultivar Es kwala recorded the highes t fr uit weight of 139.8 g and the cultivar Seed Drop exhibited the maximum TSS con tent of 14.36°B and ascorbic acid co ntent of 337 .5 mg/ IOOgm pulp. Hence, based on fruit morphology, quality and total yield CHG- I, Allahabad Safeda, Mild Flesh, Sardar, White Flesh, Spear Acid and Seed Drop were found promis ing for cultivation in the plateau region of Jharkhand. Key Words: Guava, Evaluation, Fruit shape, Flesh colour, TSS, Ascorbic acid, Yield Introduction The guava (Psidiunz gua java L.) 'Apple of Tropics' is one of the major fruit crops grown in sub tropical, sub- humid climate under eastern plateau and hill region. In the present investigation, thirty-two guava cultivars and seedlings whic h excelled over most other guava cu ltivars in term of productivity and physico-chemical characters were evaluated. Description of guava culti vars on the ba sis of botanical and pomological characters are most useful tools for systematic botanist and pomolog ist for further research and equally good for the people concerned with guava industry. Maintenance of superior geno types in respect of fruit and other characters for further crop improvement programmes is essential. The soil and climatic conditions of eastern plateau and hill agro- climatic zone offer suitable conditions for successful cultivation of gu ava under irrigated and rain-fed condi tions as well. The ease in cult ivation and precociousness of guava (after two -years attains bearing stage) under th ese conditions makes it a suitab le option for increasing the paddy equivalent yield of agriculture production system. Keeping the above point in view, the present investigation Indian J. Plant Genet. Resour. 23( I ): 25-29 (2010) was undert aken to evaluate guava ge notypes on aspec t of fruit morphology, nu tri ti ve quality and total yield under subtropi cal sub humid climate of Chotanagpur. Materials and Methods The experiment was conducted at I CAR Research Compl ex for Eastern Region, Research Center, Ranchi during 2007 - 08. This are a is situated 620 m above mea n sea level (msl) and at 23°25' N latitude and 85°20' Ea st longitude experiencin g an average annual rainfa ll of 110- 140 cm. High humi di ty (78.14%-84.14%) and low evaporation rate (4.04 mm/day) is experienced after June wh ich continues up to onset of winter (Si ngh, 1999). Soil is acidic and pH range from 5.0-6.5, which is ideal for guava cultivation. The important cultiva rs for eval uation were Kairala Seedling (T 1 ), Barkhana (T 2 ), Fl orid a Flesh (T 3 ), Chittidar AC (T 4 ), Mil d Flesh (T 5 ), Seed Drop (T 6 ), Barbadose Superior (T 7 ) ,Surkh Gu di (T 8 ), Chittidar (T 9 ), Allah abad Co llecti on (T 10 ), San gam (T 11 ), Sardar (T 12 ), Allahabad Safeda (T 13 ), Mustafapu r (T 14 ), Behat Coconut (T 15 ), Pear Shaped (T 16 ), App le Co lour (T 17 ), Harijha (T 18 ), Banarasi (T 19 ), Superior (T 20 ), Wh ite Flesh (T 21 ), Guatemala (T 22 ), CHG-1 (T 23 ), CHG-3