No abstract

Guava (Psidium guajava L.) is one of the most popular fruits in tropical and subtropical regions of India. It is popularly known as” Apple of tropics”, belongs to the family Myrtaceae and often considered as “super fruit”. It is rich in vitamin A and C, omega-3 and 6 polyunsaturated fatty acids and contains high levels of dietary fiber and other nutritional properties. Guava is a highly perishable fruit crop and has a very limited shelf life, so there is a need to preserve the fruits in dried form, whose powder can be used for processing purposes, value addition in off season demands. Therefore, we conducted an experiment to study the effect of different drying methods on physico-chemical attributes of guava’s fruit pulp powder (Santos et al., 2017). Fruits of guava pulp were used to prepare powder by different drying methods like freeze drying, sun drying, air drying and oven drying. Results showed that bulk density and moisture percent was highest recorded in sun drying method followed by air drying while minimum was recorded with oven drying followed by freeze drying. Maximum nutritional value likeFiber (5.97%), Ash(1.38%), Protein percent (1.82%), Total sugar (32.88%), reducing (23.14%) & non-reducing sugar (9.73%), ascorbic acid (227.90 mg/100 g), Titratable acidity (2.20%), Total phenols (250.66) and DPPH radical scavenging activity (83.40) was observed maximum with freeze drying followed by air drying. Taste, flavour, aroma and overall acceptability were better in freeze drying followed by Air drying.

Experiment includes guava nectar preparation using cultivars viz., Lalit, L-49, Shweta and Gwalior-27 with12 treatments of guava nectar and same level of sugar (600g/kg pulp) and citric acid (1g/kg pulp) under Completely Randomized Design replicated thrice. Physico-chemical parameters viz., TSS, acidity, TSS:Acid ratio, ascorbic acid, total sugar, pH and organoleptic parameters viz., colour, flavour, taste and overall acceptability of nectar were analyzed.TSS was maximum in T2 (12.90) followed by T5 (12.51) and minimum in T7 (10.50) and acidity was also recorded higher in T2 (0.38%) followed by T5 (0.37%) and minimum in T3, T4 and T9 (0.28%). TSS/Acid ratio was maximum in T9 (44.03) followed by T12 (41.65) and minimum in T5 (33.81) and ascorbic acid was higher in T2 (194.47) followed by T5 (192.83) and minimum in T7 (143.55). Total sugar (%) was maximum in T2 (9.28) followed by T5 (9.25) and minimum in T4 (7.60) and pH was maximum in T2 (3.95) followed by T5 (3.91) and minimum in T4 (3.48). The comparative cost of per liter nectar for different recipes was Rs. 63.72. In terms of cost benefit ratio and net return in different treatments, T2 give maximum value (1.33:1 and 21.28) followed by T5 (1.25:1and 16.28). Concluded that nectar prepared from guava pulp with different combinations, the physico-chemical and organoleptic aspects was found better in the treatment T2 [Lalit (100%)] followed byT5 [G-27+Lalit (50% +50%)].

Aim: The aim of present study was to evaluate the flowering and fruiting behaviour of different variety of peach, plum along with growth characteristics of their F1 hybrids and identification hybrid rootstocks for future genetic improvement. Study Design: The experiment was designed in Randomized Block Design Factorial with three replications. Place and Duration of Study: Rootstock hybridization programme were carried out at main fruit research station Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab during 2016-17 and 2017-18. Methodology: Rootstock hybridization programme were carried out with three varieties two peach namely Sharbati and Flordaguard and one plum Kala amritsari and study the phenological, fruiting behavior and growth performance of seedlings of parents and F1 hybrids. Results: Higher days from full bloom to maturity take by Sharbati × Flordaguard (129.4 Days) and minimum in Kala amritsari × Flordaguard (111.1 Days). For completion of stratification seeds of Sharbati and Sharbati × Flordaguard took maximum days for stratification (90-105 Days and 30-105 Days, respectively) and minimum in Flordaguard (30-60 Days). Seed germination % higher in Flordaguard (97.15%) and minimum in Sharbati × Kala amritsari (70.81%). Pollen viability in stored and fresh pollen was highest in Flordaguard (96.26 and 97.58%), while, minimum in Sharbati (90.89% and 96.60%). Leaf colour values (L, a, b, chroma and hue) maximum were in Sharbati and minimum in Flordaguard and leaf colour values of both hybrids, were as Flordaguard. Maximum chlorophyll (SPAD units) were recorded in Flordaguard × Sharbati (42.87) which was at par with the SAPD values of Sharbati × Flordaguard. Leaves of Flordaguard and both the hybrids showed dark reddish green colour on upper and light reddish green in lower side of leaves. Seedlings of Sharbati, Sharbati × Flordaguard and Flordaguard × Sharbati showed better growth characteristics as compares to seedlings of Flordaguard. Conclusion: The advance candidate hybrid rootstocks may be useful for further exploitation for genetic improvement and development of rootstock with good nursery characters.