Guava - IIHR Varieties

Guava (Psidium guajava):  The nomenclature and the descriptions of the different guava varieties grown in India are greatly confusing. Some varieties are named according to shape of the fruit; skin and pulp colour while several others after the place of origin. Guava is mainly a self-pollinated crop but cross-pollination also occurs resulting in large variability in the seedling population from which promising genotypes have been selected in different agro-climatic regions. The  characteristic features of IIHR varieties are given below:

Arka Kiran:  It is hybrid from the combination Kamsari x Purple Local. The fruits are slightly pear shaped weighing on an average about 200 g. The pulp is pink in colour with high Lycopene content and seeds are soft (<10 kg/ cm2 hardness) with a TSS of 12°Brix

Arka Amulya:  It is from the cross ‘Allahabad Safeda’ x ‘Triploid’. Fruits are medium sized, pulp white, TSS high (12.5°Brix) with good keeping quality. Plants are semi - vigorous and spreading

Arka Mridula:  It is a selection from the open pollinated seedlings of Allahabad Safeda. Fruits weigh about 180-200 g. Seeds are soft with <10 kg / m2 hardness. Fruits have whitish pulp and the TSS is 12°Brix

  • Arka Rashmi:  This is a hybrid from the combination Kamsari x Purple Local. The fruits are round, weigh about 200 g. The pulp is deep pink in colour with high ascorbic acid and lycopene content. The seeds are medium soft (8-10 kg/ cm2 hardness) with a TSS of 11-12°Brix.

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Guava general information.

Guava (Psidium guajava L) of the myrtle family (Myrtaceae), is the fifth most widely grown fruit crop in India after banana, mango, citrus and papaya. The fruit has gained considerable prominence in India due to its high nutritive value, moderate prices, pleasant aroma and good flavour. Guava is a rich source of vitamin C and pectin and moderate source of B vitamins, calcium, iron and phosphorus. It is one of the commonest fresh fruits liked by the rich and the poor alike and is popularly known as the ‘apple of tropics’ or `poor man’s apple’. Only a small quantity of the production is utilized for processing in the form of jelly, canned cups, juice and nectar, cheese, toffee bar, powder, flakes and strained baby foods have also been prepared besides commercial pectin.

Contact us.

  • ICAR - IIHR.
  • Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Hessaraghatta Lake post, Bengaluru - 560 089.
  •   Phone +91-80 23686100. website : www.iihr.res.in