The fruits and branches of Psidium guajava plants contain a considerable nutritional value, which is why the fresh fruit is so desirable. Its chemical composition varies according to the area where it is found and the variety of the species, the pulp of the guava fruit is rich in vitamins (A, B3, C, G4), sugars (fructose, glucose), tannins and fiber, in addition to a high digestibility coefficient.
▶ To determine the nutritional value related to biological and chemical characteristics of Psidium guajava genotypes, I will share with you the results of a study of germplasm where the study was done is located in the basin of Lake Maracaibo in southern Venezuela, tropical rainforest life zone, sub-humid mesoclima, rainfall about 1277mm/year, evaporation 1550mm/year, average annual temperature 27.5°C, average relative humidity of 84%, altitude of 5 meters above sea level.
In this germplasm study, 6 rows (related genotypes) of variants of 18 plants per row of Psidium guajava will be used with an approximate of 108 hybrids, which were assigned a code for their respective identification, and at the time of starting with the samples, the hybrids will be taken at random from a total of 18 plants.
As for the description of the experiment, 6 rows or genotypes of Psidium guajava hybrids were taken, then 10 leaves were extracted and three leaf segments (apex, middle and base) were sampled at different times in all blocks. For part of the statistical analysis, a randomized split-plot design was used.
Alternatively, the data of the variables were analyzed with multivariate analysis techniques: with the discriminant method, diagrams for the classification of individuals according to the variables studied.
To determine the leaf area of leaves in different guava genotypes in the germplasm bank, 10 representative leaves per plant were taken to the laboratory, for their respective measurement millimeter paper was used, based on pressing the leaves to facilitate drawing them on the millimeter paper. Each leaf was measured from the tip of the apex to the base of the petiole where the number of squares per leaf was counted to determine their respective area, taking into account a correction factor assigned to the curvature of the leaf.
