The Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) has developed and released three new varieties, namely ‘Punjab Safeda’ and ‘Punjab Kiran’ of guava and ‘Early Gold’ of sweet orange for general cultivation in Punjab. Besides, it has recommended a rootstock ‘Carrizo’ for kinnow for the submontane and central zone of Punjab.
The varieties were approved during the meeting of State Variety Approval Committee, held under the Chairmanship of Dr P.S. Aulakh, Director of Horticulture, Punjab. Dr Navtej Bains, Director of Research, and Dr Ashok Kumar, Director of Extension Education, PAU, said the salient features of these varieties and rootstock were discussed in detail by the Committee.
The guava hybrid, Punjab Safeda is white fleshed having very large fruit size. It gives an average yield of 28 kg/plant in the third year. Its fruit has 13.4 % TSS (total soluble solids) and 0.6 % acidity, and can be stored for two weeks in the cold store at the temperature of 6-8? C and relative humidity of 85-90 per cent.
Another guava hybrid, Punjab Kiran is pink fleshed having soft and small seeds. It gives an average yield of 48 kg/plant in the third year. Its fruit has 12.3 % TSS (total soluble solids) and 0.4 % acidity, and can be stored for two weeks in the cold store at the temperature of 6-8? C and relative humidity of 85-90 per cent.
The sweet orange variety, Early Gold has high juice content, less seeds (2-6) and matures by the end of October to mid of November, giving an average yield of 45 kg/plant. At maturity, its fruit turns from green-yellow to orange in colour. Its juice content is more than 47.2 per cent and is of golden yellow colour.
Carrizo, a rootstock for kinnow, is recommended for the submontane and central zone of Punjab for soils with less than 8 pH. Kinnow plants produced on this rootstock are relatively free from phytophthora and fruits are of better quality.
Source:http://web.pau.edu/
