Guava

Guava: Psidium guajava

Introduction
Nutritive Values
(per 100g edible portion)

Energy	51.0 k cal
Protein	0.9 g
Fat	.3 g
Carbohydrates	11.2 g
Calcium	10.0 mg
Phosphorus	28.0 mg
Iron	1.4 mg
Thiamine	30.0 ug
Riboflavin	30.0 ug
Vit. C	212.0 mg

Medicinal Values
Good source of calcium & Vit. C. Useful in hemorrhoids, juice suitable for invalids.

Major Growing Areas
Mostly in the Wet and Intermediate zones

Recommended Varieties
Bangkok Giant, Horana Red, Horana white, Pubudu and Kanthi (a dwarf variety)

Bangkok Giant	Horana white
Horana Red	Pubudu
Kanthi

Field Establishment
Ecological requirements

Annual rain fall	1000 - 4000 mm
Temperature	23o - 28oC (can tolerate temperatures as high as 45oC)
Elevation	1500 - 2000 m - (Suitable for all 3 zones. Dry intermediate and wet zones)
Soil requirements	Sandy to day loam A wide range of pH - 4.5 - 9.0 Slight tolerance to salinity & water logging Tolerant to drought
Propagation	Patch budding (commonly used), Modified forkette budding, shield budding, air layering
Planting
Size of planting hole  60 cm x 60 cm x 60 cm  Spacing                4.5 - 5.0 m x 4.5 - 5.0 m

Crop Management
Nature of cultivation
Scattered; small scale cultivations and in home gardens.

Mulching
During dry spells improves fruit size

Fertilizing
N:P2OJ : K2O, 12:14:14 mixture as recommended by DOA.

Training & pruning
3-4 well spaced braches, aring at 60cm above ground.

Tree should be maintained at a 3 m height to facilitate harvesting.

Insect pest

Fruit fly (Bactocera spp.)	Characteristics	Control
	Female fly pierces mature fruits & lays eggs	Covering immature fruits
	Larvae feed on flesh, causing secondary infections & finally rotting of fruit	Harvesting before full maturity
		Destroying ripe fruits fallen on ground Use traps containing methyl euginol
	Characteristics	Control
Thrips (Selenothrips rubrocinctus)	Nursery and young plants are attacked	Use of a systemic insecticide if the damage is severe. Fipronil, Imidachlorprid or Carbosulfan are effective
	Both pupae & adult suck underneath of the leaf, leading to yellowish spots. This resulting in completely dried leaves causing seedling death
	Characteristics	Control
Myloceras & Phylophaga spp.	Adult insect feeds on leaves at night and not seen during daytime	Use of a systemic insecticide, if damage is severe
	Severe damages occur in some seasons of the year
	Characteristics	Control
Leaf eating caterpillar	Caterpillar feeds on young leaves & the growing point by folding & webbing leaves	Removal of insects
	This results in growth retardation of main stem and formation of many side shoots	Use of a systemic insecticide if the damage is severe

Diseases

Scab - (pestatotia spp)
Use of copper funigicides

Wilt disease - (Macrophoma spp and Fusarium spp)Uproot and removal of diseased plants parts & destroy

Harvesting & Post-harvest Technology
Fruiting commences
2 - 2.5 yrs of age. (budded materials)

Time taken to fruit maturity
120 - 150 days

Yield

Colour changes from dark green to light greenish yellow with the stalk attached. When plucking fruits removal of 2 leaves close to fruit stimulates the growth of flush with flowers.

Mean fruit vield of recommended varieties

	t/ha/yr
Bangkok Giant	22.0
Pubudu	20.0
Horana White	20.0
Horan Red	17.9
Kanthi	20.0

Value Added Products
Jams, canned fruit, jelly, juice, flavoring agent.

Economics & Marketing
Availability
Year round

Recent Developments in Vegetative Propagation Techniques for Guava
In addition to commonly used patch method of budding following methods can also be practiced.
1. Wedge grafting:
Percentage success of wedge grafting is higher than that of patch method of budding. Also wedge grafted plants grow vigorously at initial stage of grafting.
2. Chip budding:
This can be practiced when the plant is not in active growth and the bark does not separate easily which an advantage over the patch is budding.
3. Inarching:

Grafting of a large shoot while it is on the mother plant, so that a largely grown plant can be obtained as planting materials. This method of propagation can also be used as a method of reviving old trees.
4. Top working:
Guava can be top worked to replace the unwanted trees with high yielding varieties of good quality. Crown of the existing tree is removed leaving 1-2 branches for maintenance purposes. (Once new growth establishes these are removed). When new