Phenology, yield and fruit quality of 'Paluma' guava tree at different pruning times

Abstract

Pruning guava trees at different times is an important management tool that allows year-long staggering of fruit production. In this context, this study aimed to evaluate the phenological characteristics, yield and fruit quality of the 'Paluma' guava tree at different pruning times in Botucatu, SP. The study used a completely randomized design with four treatments, four replicates and a useful experimental plot plant. The treatments consisted of four different pruning times, August 27, September 11, September 26 and October 11. The following phenological phases were evaluated: branch establishment, flowering, early fruiting, fruit ripening and harvesting. It was determined the number of flower buds, fixed fruits and fixation index fruit were determined. The fruit growth curve was obtained by measuring the transverse and longitudinal diameter. At the time of harvest, the number of fruits per plant, yield and productivity were measured. In the harvested fruits, the fresh mass, the transverse and longitudinal diameter, the flesh and core thickness, the flesh and core mass, soluble solids, titratable acidity and pH were determined. The 'Paluma' guava trees pruned in August showed higher phenological stage durations than the other pruning times; however, those pruned in early September showed higher fixation index fruit, fruit yield and better physical characteristics. The guava trees pruned in August showed lower titratable acidity values and higher soluble solids/titratable acidity ratio.Index terms: Psidium guajava L.; fruit growth; fruit set; fixation index. RESUMOA poda da goiabeira em diferentes épocas é uma importante prática de manejo que permite a produção escalonada dos frutos ao longo do ano. Nesse contexto, o presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar as características fenológicas, produtivas e de qualidade de frutos da goiabeira 'Paluma' em função de diferentes épocas de poda em Botucatu, SP. Foi utilizado o delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com quatro tratamentos, quatro repetições e uma planta útil por parcela experimental. Os tratamentos consistiram em quatro diferentes épocas de poda de goiabeiras 'Paluma', sendo elas: 27 de agosto, 11 de setembro, 26 de setembro e 11 de outubro. Foram avaliadas as seguintes fases fenológicas: estabelecimento de ramos, florescimento, início da frutificação, maturação dos frutos e colheita. Foi determinado o número de botões florais, número de frutos fixados e o índice de pegamento de frutos. A curva de crescimento de frutos foi obtida através da medição semanal do diâmetro transversal e longitudinal dos frutos. Na ocasião da colheita foi avaliado o número de frutos por planta, a produção e a produtividade. Nos frutos colhidos determinou-se a massa fresca; diâmetro transversal, longitudinal e sua relação; espessura do mesocarpo -polpa, e do endocarpo -miolo; massa de polpa e miolo e suas relações; teor de sólidos solúveis, acidez titulável e sua relação e pH. As goiabeiras 'Paluma' podadas no mês de agosto apresentaram maior duração das fases fenológic...

Metabolomic Analyses Provide New Insights into Signaling Mechanisms for Nutrient Uptake by Lateral Roots of Pruned Tea Plant (Camellia sinensis)

“…In the present study, organic acids including cis -aconitic acid, glutaric acid, argininosuccinate, succinyladenosine, fumaric acid, and malate increased significantly by 2.42-, 3.13-, 3.65-, 2.41-, 2.37-, and 2.58-fold, respectively, in lateral roots of pruned plants. This is consistent with an earlier report that pruning significantly increases the concentration of organic acids in guava plant . Organic compounds serve as chelating ligands, which form complexes with minerals, thereby influencing nutrient absorption .…”

“…This is consistent with an earlier report that pruning significantly increases the concentration of organic acids in guava plant. 27 Organic compounds serve as chelating ligands, which form complexes with minerals, thereby influencing nutrient absorption. 28 It is reported that increased organic acids in roots enhance the uptake of phosphate from the soil.…”

Photosynthetic Assimilation of the Guava (Psidium guajava) cv. Paluma under Different Pruning and Fruit Thinning Intensities

“…According to Pereira [51] and Silva et al [52], for exclusively economic reasons, the months from October to February are recommended in Brazil as the best season for pruning aimed at fruit production, thus making better use of the periods with higher fruit demand. Guava plants can show budding problems or flaws in months with milder temperatures, normally from May to July [49,53].…”

“…It is also observed that pruning during the vegetative phase (September to November) implies leaf elimination, which are organs that synthesize organic substances, determining the productivity of the crop. Although the remaining leaves increase their photosynthetic efficiency as part of the plant's effort to balance photosynthetic demand, this is insufficient to compensate for the production of photosynthesis at the previous levels, thus resulting in a weakening effect of pruning [50,52].…”

Analyzing the Effect of Different Levels of Pruning on Growth, Yield and Quality of Psidium guajava L. Cv. Lalit (Guava)

“…It is a popular fruit tree of tropical and subtropical climate and is native to Tropical America stretching from Mexico to Peru. It belongs to family Myrtaceae [1][2][3]. The guava is classified under genus Psidium that contains 150 species but only Psidium guajava is exploited commercially.…”