Screening of guava (Psidium guajava L) varieties against fruit fly, Bactrocera spp in southwest Haryana

The number of maggots per infested fruit and fruit fly infestation differ from variety to variety. In the present study on screening of guava varieties against fruit fly, Bactrocera spp, out of six guava varieties, the maximum number of maggots 12.20/infested fruit and maximum infestation of 75.00 per cent were recorded in Banarasi Surkha and minimum number of maggots 9.80/infested fruit and minimum infestation 45.00 per cent were recorded in Desi germplasm. The variety Banarasi Surkha recorded highest fruit weight (169.2 g) and TSS (13.20°Brix) and lowest firmness (6.20 kg/cm²), acidity (0.36%) and total phenol content (196 mg/100 g FW). Allahbadi Safeda had maximum size (5.40 cm × 6.80 cm). Hisar Surkha had highest pH (3.72) and vitamin C (186.40 mg/100 g) content. Desi germplasm had highest firmness (7.62 kg/cm²), acidity (0.52%) and total phenols (289 mg/100 g FW) and lowest fruit weight (132.2 g), size (4.34 cm × 5.80 cm), TSS (11.60 Brix) and vitamin C (121.24 mg/100 g) content. Lowest pH was observed in Hisar Safeda (3.35). Higher number of maggots per fruit and fruit fly infestation were recorded in the varieties/germplasms Banarasi Surkha and L-49. Fruit infestation had a positive correlation with fruit weight (r = 0.857), TSS (r = 0.984) and vitamin C (r = 0.849) and negative correlation with fruit firmness (r = –0.992), acidity (r = –0.987) and total phenolic content (r = –0.959).