MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF FRUIT FROM THE ex situ COLLECTION OF Psidium guajava L.

Abstract

Guava tree (Psidium guajava L.) is an important crop in different parts of the world, and its fruit is much
appreciated for its nutritional properties. It is considered to be native of Mesoamerica, and it has been
reported that in México it presents diversity in form of the fruit. With the purpose of taking advantage
of this diversity, accessions of P. guajava were collected and an ex situ collection was established, for their characterization and conservation. From 16 states, 93 guava accessions were analyzed, as well as three introduced genotypes, based on 24 quantitative and qualitative morphological traits, through principal components. The first five components explained 60 % of the total variability, and the variables of greatest descriptive value were: those related to the size of the fruit (weight, diameter, pulp thickness); the number and weight of seeds; the shape of the fruit, color of the pulp and texture. In general, the accessions showed variability in the characteristics evaluated, which reveals the broad genetic base of the germplasm, which can be taken advantage of in the development of new varieties that satisfy demands from the consumer and from the industry for fresh fruit.