Bhatia, S.K.Atul Kumar Singh2016-11-172016-11-172005http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/86027The present experiment was undertaken to study the cytological and morphological characters of seven genotypes of Psidium guajava L. and two species viz., P. cattleianum Sabine and P. chinensis L. Cytological studies were done for chromosome count and their pairing behaviour during meiosis. Seedless cultivar was triploid (3n= 33), while all other genotypes of P. guajava were diploid having 11 pairs of chromosome (2n= 22). Meiotic study of PMCs in P. chinensis revealed 11 pairs of chromosomes, whereas, in P. cattleianum, 44 pairs were seen showing multivalents formation at Metaphase-I. Most of the genotypes had upright growth and broad crown, L-49 showed spreading nature with flat crown. Strawberry guava was dwarf and drooping in nature, Chinese guava was also dwarf but with upright growth. Phyllotaxy was opposite and 7 out of 9 genotypes had superposed arrangement of leaves while rest two viz., Apple Colour and Chinese guava had decussate arrangement. The leaf shape varied from ovate to elliptical to lanceolate and variation in leaf colour was from pale green to dark green. Genotype L-49 had maximum leaf area and Chinese guava had minimum. The inflorescence was cymose and two to three flowers per cyme were borne in the leaf axil of current season growth. There were 5 sepals per flower in all the genotypes except Seedless (4 sepals per flower). The number of petals varied considerably among genotypes. The peak anthesis time was 6.00 to 7.00 a.m. and pollen dehiscence time was 6.30 to 7.30 a.m. in all genotypes except three. The study showed considerable variation for fruit shape, weight and surface texture. Seed content was maximum in Strawberry guava (10.32%) followed by Chinese guava (6.08%) and Banarsi Surkha (2.88%). Total soluble solids were highest in Hisar Surkha (11.7%), while Acidity was maximum in Strawberry guava. The results indicate that the study of cytological and morphological characters of guava genotypes would help in better identification of genotypes and their further use in breeding programmes.enGuavas, Fruits, Developmental stages, Genotypes, Chromosomes, Apples, Planting, Biological development, Acidity, Plant habitThesis