D. S. Mali, S. A. Ranpise, S. S. Kulkarni and P.H. Nikumbhe
Abstract
The present investigation entitled, âInfluence of pruning techniques on yield and fruit quality attributes in high density planting of guava cv. Sardarâ was carried at Instructional-Cum Research Farm, Department of Horticulture, Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri, during 2012 and 2013 year. The experiment was conducted on 3.5 years old healthy, vigorous high density plantation. The treatments comprised of four spacings viz; 2 x 1 m (M1), 2 x 2 m (M2), 3 x 2 (M3) and 3 x 3 m (M4) and three pruning intensity i.e. upto last two season growth (S1), upto last three season growth (S2) and upto last four season growth (S3) with six plants in a treatment replicated three times in split plot design. The maximum average number of fruit per tree (35.87), yield per tree (6.73 kg) and per ha. (55.63 tonnes) was recorded in T4 (M2S1) and significant highest weight of fruit (191.05 g) was recorded in T7 (M3S1) whereas minimum average number of fruit per tree (16.94), yield per tree and per hectare (2.90 kg) and (3.23 tonnes) was recorded in T12 (M4S3) and minimum average weight of fruit (151.65 g) was recorded in T3 (M1S3). The quality parameters like TSS, total sugars, reducing sugars, non reducing sugars, acidity, sugars: acid ratio and ascorbic acid were significantly influenced due to various treatments. Significantly higher TSS (12.58o Brix) was recorded in T9 (M3S3) while total sugars (7.29 %), reducing sugars (4.21 %) and non reducing sugars (3.08 %) were recorded in T10 (M4S1). The high acidity (0.49 %) was recorded in T2 (M1S2) while, best sugars: acid ratio (18.77) was found in T8 (M3S2). Significantly highest ascorbic acid content (201.06 mg/100g) was recorded in T6 (M2S3).