Optimizing yield and quality in guava through crop regulation: comprehensive review

Guava is one of the most important nutritious and commercially cultivated fruit crop belonging to the family Myrtaceae. Owing to its hard nature, it is grown successfully in tropical and subtropical regions in India over an area of 246.85 thousand hectares with production of 4053.51 thousand metric tons. The total area under guava cultivation in Uttar Pradesh is 49.53 thousand hectares with 928.44 thousand metric tons production during 2017-18 [1]. Guava grown in diverse agro climatic conditions faces different biotic and abiotic stresses limiting the production and productivity of guava that its influence the economic condition of guava growers. Keeping these facts in mind, the present study was conducted in Bijnor district of Western Uttar Pradesh to analyze the socio- economic condition of guava growers. The result indicated that among the all study characteristics majority of the guava growers belonging to the middle ages 46 to 60 years (56.36 percent), general caste (50.91 percent), education level literate (90.00 percent) and among literate level of education maximum guava growers (42.42 percent) was high school, family type-joint family (78.18 percent), family member-4 to 6 members (51.82), land holding size-above 5 hectare (46.36 percent), irrigation facilities-own electric tube well (58.18 percent), occupation-agriculture and guava farming (48.18 percent), annual income-more than Rs 1,00,000.00 (62.73 percent) and social participation-no participation (61.82 percent). On the basis of result of this study it's become the necessary to develop some extension strategies for the promotion of higher production and productivity of guava in Bijnor district.

Self-fertile cherry cultivars can produce an excessive crop of small fruits with low sugar content. In order to prevent overcropping and provide high quality fruits, chemical thinning of flowers is required. Ammonium thiosulfate (ATS), surfactants and plant oils are used to thin flowers, mostly in apple and peach. The purpose of this research was to compare the effectiveness of the blossom thinners ATS, surfactant Silwet and rapeseed oil (Ogriol) in reducing fruit set of the self-fertile sweet cherry cultivars Alex and Sunburst and their potential to improve fruit quality. At lower rates (1 and 2%) ATS did not consistently reduce fruit set, while at higher rate (3%) it produced visible phytotoxicity on the leaves. ATS treatments did not increase the average weight and diameter of fruits. 10 and 30 ml/l Ogriol application did not reduce fruit set significantly or improve fruit quality of self-fertile sweet cherries. The surfactant Silwet applied at the rates of 1 or 3 ml/l was found to consistently thin self-fertile sweet cherry cultivars, leading to better fruit quality.

Adoption research for many years has considered individual farmer as the basis of analysis, whereas, the effect of networks governing a farmer’s decision-making has received limited attention. Moreover, the spread of technology over different generation of adopters has not been addressed adequately. Hence, farmers’ position within the agricultural information networks and their adoption decision, may be studied to formulate some lower order propositions regarding the diffusion of agricultural innovations within social networks. The present study was conducted at Nadia District of West Bengal, India to study the spread of banana (Musa paradisiacal L.) and guava (Psidium guajava L.) cultivation among the farmers of selected villages. Case study method and focused group discussion was used to track this spread over different generations of adopters. Sociometric technique was employed to find out the network score of farmers in the agricultural information network. The fractional ranking of network scores of farmers was then compared with their relative earliness in the spread of banana and guava cultivation. It was found that both in the spread of banana and guava cultivation, most of the farmers who had higher network scores were earlier adopters of banana and guava cultivation practices and vice versa. This indicates the possible relations between farmers’ adoption-decision regarding new crops and their position in social networks.

Effects of calcium nitrate (CN) and sodium sulfate (SS) blossom thinning agents applied after self-incompatibility control substance (SICS) treatment on the fruit set rate and quality of apple were investigated for 2 cropping seasons. CN and SS at 0.1% and 0.2% concentrations were applied once (3 or 4 days after SICS treatment) or twice (3 and 5 or 4 and 6 days after SICS treatment). Commercial Japanese flower thinning agent (FTA: Ekoruki) treated and untreated apple trees were used as treated and untreated controls. SICS was sprayed 7 days before full bloom. Both agents showed a fertilizing effect in 'Hongno', improving its fruit yield and quality. SS obtained 29.8% and 36.3% thinning rates in the central floret of 'Fuji'. Both CN and SS were effective in 'Gala', which induced a lower fruit set than SICS treated plants. Earlier and double applications of CN and SS at 0.2% concentration resulted in a higher thinning rate and improved fruit quality in 'Gala'. Results also showed similar thinning efficacies in Ekoruki, CN, and SS.

Effects of timing and duration of brackish irrigation water on fruit yield and quality of late summer melons

Fruit production regions around the world are now experiencing significant changes in their growing conditions. Farmers already face greater challenges growing temperate fruits in subtropical and tropical regions compared to temperate regions, but time of production provides substantial farm gate returns. Climate variability is impacting on profitability, yields, fruit quality and phenological performance. Breeding of new low-chill cultivars and selection of new rootstocks have assisted farmers to negate some effects of climate variability. New cultivars have also allowed new growing regions to be developed. Market niches that were not previously considered accessible are now being targeted with temperate fruit from subtropical and tropical regions. New training systems that improving light penetration into the canopy and canopy management practices to control vegetative growth have substantially increased fruit size and enhanced fruit quality, providing consumers with a highly consistent product. Crop manipulation practices to enhance and concentrate flowering periods, decrease harvesting costs, improve fruit quality and increased the profitability of growing temperate fruits in subtropical and tropical regions. Furthermore, cultural practices, such as the use of new fertiliser and irrigation management practices and crop manipulators to delay fruit maturation have also significantly enhance fruit size and quality. The growing temperate fruits in subtropical and tropical of regions of Asia has significantly improve the socioeconomic status of poor ethnic minority groups living in areas where low-chill temperate fruits can be successfully grown.

Guava (Psidium guajava L.) is a valuable tropical fruit crop known for its nutritional benefits and economic significance, especially in India. Nevertheless, guava farming encounters difficulties, including early flower and fruit drop, which are frequently linked to inadequate nutrient management and excessive reliance on chemical inputs. This research sought to evaluate the effects of organic fertilizers, seaweed extract, and Pink Pigmented Facultative Methylotrophs (PPFM) on the growth stages, physiological characteristics, and yield factors of the guava variety Taiwan Pink. A field experiment was carried out in Rajampalayam village, Tamil Nadu, from February 2024 to May 2025 utilizing a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with 12 unique treatment combinations, each replicated three times. The treatments included various combinations of goat manure, poultry manure, seaweed extract (2–3%), and PPFM (1–2%). Observations were made on phenological parameters (such as bud emergence and fruit set), vegetative parameters (including shoot and leaf count, and leaf area), and physiological parameters (chlorophyll index). The data were analyzed using standard ANOVA methods at a 5% significance level. Treatment T3 (Goat manure 2.5 kg combined with 3% seaweed extract) achieved the earliest bud emergence at 12.42 days. Meanwhile, T10 (Poultry manure 2.5 kg with 2% PPFM) resulted in the quickest fruit set at 27.96 days, alongside the highest number of flower buds (144.69) and the most fruit set (139.67). T5 (Goat manure with 2% PPFM) exhibited the greatest leaf area at 61.16 cm². Additionally, T10 recorded the highest chlorophyll index during the flowering stage at 43.96, while T2 (Goat manure with 2.5% seaweed extract) excelled during fruit set with an index of 38.46. Combining organic fertilizers with bio-inputs such as seaweed extract and PPFM greatly improved vegetative growth, chlorophyll levels, and fruiting characteristics in guava cv. Taiwan Pink. This environmentally friendly method not only boosts yield and fruit quality but also promotes sustainable agriculture by decreasing reliance on chemical fertilizers.

Ripening time of peach cultivars that are grown up in our country is extended over a time period of almost four months. In addition to that, one of more important objectives of the peach breeding is creation of the cultivars having either very early or very late ripening time. Our so far experience is that the peach cultivars which ripening time is in the extremes is of lower fruit quality. The aim of this study, therefore, was to determine relationship and the nature of the dependence between flowering time or ripening time from one side and yield, yield components (initial and final fruit set, fruit weight and stone weight) and chemical composition of fruit (content of total dry matter, content of soluble solids, content of total, invert and reduced sugar and content of total acid) on the other side. Twenty peach cultivars each having a different ripening time were using as material. The relationship between characteristics was determined on the basis of values of genetic and phenotypic correlation coefficients. Genetic and phenotypic coefficients of correlation were calculated based on the results of monofactorial analysis of covariance where the years considered as replications. It was confirmed that flowering time was positive genetic and phenotypic correlated with initial fruit set and with final fruit set. The existence of significant genetic and phenotypic correlation between ripening time and fruit weight, between ripening time and dry matter content and between ripening time and soluble solid content represented difficulty in creation of new peach cultivars of early ripening time and improved fruit quality .

Pollinators play a crucial role in the reproduction of cherries, ensuring successful fruit set and enhancing the quality and yield of cherries. The study aimed to highlight the crucial role of insect pollinators in enhancing the fruit set and quality of sweet cherries (Prunus avium L.) in orchards of the Kashmir Valley, with significant implications for sustainable horticultural practices. Utilizing a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with six treatments and three replications, the contributions of three key pollinators Apis mellifera, Apis cerana, and Eristalis tenax were systematically evaluated. While all pollination treatments resulted in 100% fruit set, notable differences in fruit quality were observed based on pollinator species and visit frequency. A. mellifera emerged as the most effective pollinator, attributed to its high foraging rate (1.65 flowers per second) and strong fidelity. It produced the largest fruits (18.00 mm), highest fruit weight (8.82 g), lowest acidity (1.12% citric acid), and highest TSS (17.90°Brix). A. cerana also contributed significantly, particularly under multiple visit scenarios, yielding fruit size of 17.10 mm, weight of 7.22 g, acidity of 1.44%, and total soluble solids (TSS) of 16.57°Brix. Though E. tenax exhibited lower efficiency, it still played a supplemental role, improving fruit characteristics moderately with repeated visits. Foraging efficiency, measured as time spent per flower, further reinforced the dominance of A. mellifera (8.34 seconds/minute/flower) over A. cerana (9.38 seconds/minute/flower) and E. tenax (11.34 seconds/flower).

Combined environmental stresses induced by drip irrigation positively affect most solar greenhouse grown tomato fruit quality

Guava fruit is a very nutritious and fairly rich source of minerals, vitamins, and dietary fiber thus medicinally rich to cure stomach-related problems. Thus it's a need of hour to produce quality fruits without any internal or external defects or disorders as well as fruits should be free from chemical residues. The problem to produce the desired quality of fruits can be overcome by the use of pre-harvest bagging technology. Thus an experiment was conducted to evaluate the performance of different bagging materials on fruit appearance and quality. The findings revealed that the maximum increase in fruit mass (36.38%), fruit length (20.64%), fruit grade (30.23%), ascorbic acid content (7.36%) and TSS (48.65%) were observed as compared to the control in perforated polythene bags bagged at 30 days after fruit set (PEBD2), newspaper bagged at 30 days after fruit set (NPBD2), perforated polythene bagged at 15 days after fruit set (PEBD1) and butter paper bagged at 15 days after fruit set (BPBD1), respectively, whereas maximum reduction in fruit scar (93.78) recorded in newspaper bagged at 15 days after fruit set (NPBD1). Findings indicated that physio-chemical attributes of bagged fruits positively altered with no scar on fruit skin and without pest infestation thus ensuring better fruit quality, optimum production and consumer acceptance. Thus, bagging is cost-effective technology, warrants physiologically improved quality fruit production with consumer satisfaction.

Low productivity and severe fruit drop are major constraints in Alphonso mango cultivation in the Konkan region, primarily due to improper nutrient and water management. A field experiment was conducted during 2023-24 and 2024-25 at the Centre of Excellence for Mango, College of Horticulture, Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli, to study the combined effect of nutrient application and irrigation on fruit retention, yield and quality of mango (Mangifera indica L.) cv. Alphonso. The experiment was laid out in a Factorial Randomized Block Design (FRBD) with twelve treatment combinations comprising four nutrient management practices (F1-F4) and three irrigation-mulching regimes (I1-I3) replicated thrice. Results revealed that the combined application of RDF in split (N-30% P-40% K-20% after harvest, N-30% P-40% K 20% during fruit set, N-20% K-30% at marble stage, N-20% P-20% K-30% egg stage) + irrigation and mulching (F2I3) recorded significantly higher fruit retention (7.28%), number of fruits per tree (145.50) and fruit yield (38.23 kg/tree) compared to other treatments. Improved fruit quality parameters such as fruit weight (263.93 g), fruit length (10.06 cm), fruit width (8.56 cm) pulp: stone ratio (5.54), total soluble solids (18.73 0Brix), titratable acidity (%) and minimum days from flowering to harvest (115.77 days) and spongy tissue incidence (2.33%) were also observed under the same treatment. The enhanced performance may be attributed to improved nutrient availability, better soil moisture status and reduced physiological stress during critical stages of fruit development. The study concluded that integrated nutrient management combined with irrigation and mulching is essential for improving productivity and fruit quality of Alphonso mango under Konkan agro-climatic conditions.

Adequate management of saline water irrigation and nitrogen (N) fertilizer application in agriculture can contribute substantially to expanding guava cultivation in the semi-arid region of Northeast Brazil. This study aimed to evaluate gas exchange and production of ‘Paluma’ guava cultivated with different levels of water salinity and N. The experiment was carried out in drainage lysimeters under field conditions in an experimental area of the Federal University of Campina Grande (UFCG), Campus of Pombal, PB, Brazil. The experimental design was randomized blocks, in a 5 × 4 factorial scheme, with five levels of water salinity – ECw (0.3, 1.1, 1.9, 2.7 and 3.5 dS m-1) and four doses of N (70, 100, 130 and 160% of the recommendation) with three replicates. The dose relative to 100% corresponded to 541.1 mg of N dm-3 of soil. The following production components were evaluated: number of fruits, mean fruit weight, polar and equatorial diameter of fruits, and polar diameter/equatorial diameter ratio. In addition, the following physiological variables were evaluated at 180 days after fruit pruning: stomatal conductance, CO2 assimilation rate, internal CO2 concentration and transpiration rate. CO2 assimilation and transpiration rate were used to calculate instantaneous water use efficiency. The interaction between water salinity and N doses did not cause significant effects on any variable studied. Irrigation water salinity above 0.3 dS m-1 hampered gas exchange at 180 days after fruit pruning and negatively affected production components.

Plant growth regulators (PGRs) include natural and synthetic plant phytohormones and other substances with the capacity to shape one or more aspects of plant growth and development at small concentrations. PGRs are commonly utilized in tree fruit and table grape production to reduce fruit set (thinning) and increase fruit size, coloration, and quality. However, use of PGRs in the production of berry crops, such as blueberry, is less common despite the abundance of production issues and the breadth of PGRs generally registered for fruit crops. This meta-analysis and systematic review discusses the past and current literature surrounding PGR use in blueberry production. First, we highlight the lack of PGRs registered and available to use in blueberry production relative to the increase in blueberry production value over the past decade. Next, we discuss the published literature on PGR use in blueberry species by production topic, including fruit set, berry mass and plant yield, ripening rate and harvest fruit quality, post-harvest fruit quality, and winter hardiness. Meta-analysis of qualifying PGR and production topic combinations revealed that gibberellic acid (GA3) and cytokinins (CKs) increase fruit set, CKs increase berry size, abscisic acid (ABA) and GA3 do not influence berry size, GA3 increases yield, and ABA does not enhance anthocyanin concentration. As global blueberry production continues to expand globally, PGR use will likely increase to address production issues and sustain production and fruit quality.

Sufficient heat accumulation is critical for fruit ripening in wine grape ( Vitis vinifera ). In 2013, a directed-heat application machine was evaluated for its ability to abridge vine phenology and improve fruit quality in commercially grown ‘Syrah’ and ‘Merlot’ in Paterson, WA. Heat was generated through the propane burning and applied to the vine via angled vents. The heat-generator was pulled by a tractor operating at 4 mph, resulting in a 2-second exposure of heat per vine. Rows were treated on a weekly to biweekly basis with transient heat treatments during: 1) bloom only, 2) véraison only, 3) both bloom and véraison, 4) from budbreak to harvest, and 5) a no-heat applied control. Data collected included the timing of phenological stages, percent fruit set, duration and level of heat exposure of the fruit and canopy, juice soluble solids, titratable acidity (TA) and pH at commercial maturity. Air temperature at the vent blower was ≈300 °F; however, by the time the air reached the canopy, air temperature was ≈130 to 150 °F. As a result, the typical increase in leaf or cluster temperature was 10 to 20 °F for 10 to 20 s. Heat application did not increase the number of berries per cluster or fruit set, did not enhance or abridge key vine phenological stages, did not increase soluble solids concentration accumulation, and did not alter juice TA or pH. Results indicate that heat application of this form does not advance vine phenology and in-field measured aspects of fruit quality in climates with large day-night temperature changes such as those in eastern Washington.