Guava - Crop Protection

Guava (Psidium guajava) : Guava grows on small trees with spreading branches, may grow to a height and spread of 6-9 m. Guava trees produce white, 1-inch flowers that yield to small round, oval or pear shaped fruits. They have soft flesh, which may be white, pink,  or red depending on variety. The skin is edible. The guava bears fruit all year round.  Guava trees grow well in tropical conditions, though it can tolerate drought better than many tropical fruits.  It is also adapted to many soil types and may thrive even on shallow, infertile soils. Green when unripe but some cultivars will stay light green even when it is ripe and some will turn yellow.

Diagnostic Solutions

  • Disease management : The important diseases of guava are wilt, anthracnose, die back, canker, fruit rot, and dry rot,  Styler end rot and seedling blight

  • Pest Management : The insect pest mostly seen are fruit fly, green shield scale, Mirid bug, Mealy bug, Bark eating cater pillar and tea musquito bug.



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