08 Nov Propagation methods for commercial guava cultivation
अमरूद की वाणिज्यिक खेती के लिए वंशवृद्धी के तरीके। Guava (Psidium guajava L.), an important fruit crop is grown throughout the tropical and sub-tropical parts of India due to its a hardy nature and wider adaptability. There has been a paradigm shift in its production system from subsistence to commercial cultivation. Over the last decade (2001 -2010), the area and production have increased 1.3 times (1.55 to 2.05 lakh hectares) and 1.4 times (17.16 to 24.62 lakh tonnes), respectively. In spite of substantial increase in area and production, there is an ample scope for area expansion; due to its precocious and prolific bearing habit, which in turn ensures high returns to the guava growers. True to the type planting material is the most vital component of area expansion. Guava can be propagated by seeds as well as by vegetative means. However, vegetative propagation methods are preferred over the seed propagation because in spite of being self pollinated crop, cross pollination is common in guava. Seed propagation cannot maintain the genetic purity and results in large variation in the seedling population because of segregation and recombination of characters during sexual reproduction. Variation in the plants affects the fruit quality, shape, size and yield. Further seedling plants take 6-7 years to come into bearing stage. Seeds may...