Guava is grown commercially in Pakistan, primarily in the Punjab, Northwest Frontier Province, and Sindh. It is produced on over 58,000 hectares annually, yielding over 468,000 tons. Guava requires tropical or subtropical conditions and tolerates a wide range of soil pH. It is commonly propagated through cuttings, air layering, grafting, or budding. Major pests and diseases include rust, anthracnose, and algal leaf spot, which can be managed through resistant varieties, fungicides, and cultural practices. Guava fruits are used fresh or processed into products like paste, jelly, and powder.
5. Growing areas in Pakistan
In Pakistan, it is grown in all the provinces.
The major guava growing areas in the
Punjab.
Shariqpur, Kasur, Lahore, Sheikhupora, Sangla Hills,
Gujranwala.
North West Frontier Province.
Kohat, Haripur and Bannu
Sindh.
Larkana and Hyderabad
6. Guava production in Pakistan
In Pakistan, it is grown in all the provinces over
an area.
58.5 thousand hectares
with production of 468.3 thousand tones.
8. Cultural requirements
Guava grown under tropical and subtropical
climatic zones.
young plants are susceptible to drought and
cold conditions.
The guava does equally well on heavy clay, to
light sandy.
It tolrates a pH range from 4.5 to 9.4.
13. Production Technology
Guava trees are planted at a distance of 5-6
meters.
Trees grow rapidly and fruit in 2-4 years.
They live 30-40 years but productivity declines
after the 15th year.
Guava some time suffers from deficiency of zinc
and iron.
Spraying the trees with 7.0 gm per litter of
ZnSo4 and 46.5 gm of FeSo4 improves yield and
quality.
14. Pruning and Blossoming
Light annual pruning is necessary after every
harvest.
Guava flowers twice a year:
1st in March to April for summer crop.
2nd in August to September for winter.
. Blooming period varies from 25-45 days.
15. Cont….
Winter crop is usually preferred as it yields
higher with fruit of better quality.
Some of the growers adopt the practice of
having a good winter crop by with holding
water during summer.
Guava fruit takes about 125 days to reach
maturity after setting.
16. Harvesting
At maturity fruit turns from green to oil green
and at ripening creamy in colour.
Hand picking of ripened fruits two to three
times a week is suggested.
The harvesting season many last 8-10 weeks.
Fruit is highly perishable, it should be
immediately marketed after harvest.
17. Common Pests and Diseases
Rust (Puccinia psidii)
Orange to red pustules appearing on leaves, young shoots,
flowers and/or fruit; leaves distorted; defoliation of tree;
reduced growth; circular lesions on fully expanded leaves
with dark borders and yellow halos
18. Cont…
Management:
Primary method of controlling
disease is usually the application of
appropriate fungicides.
Cultural practices that may reduce
the incidence of the disease.
20. Cont…
Management:
The primary method of controlling
the disease is to plant resistant guava
cultivars.
Both systemic and non-systemic
fungicides are effective at controlling
the disease.
21. Cont….
Algal leaf spot (Cephaleuros virescens)
Orange, rust-colored, dense, silky tufts on
both upper and lower surfaces of leaves which
turn reddish-purple in color as they mature.
if tufts are scraped away, a thin gray-white or
dark-colored necrotic spot remains on the leaf
22.
23. Cont…
Management:
Ensure trees receive adequate fertilization,
irrigation and and are properly pruned to
avoid stress on the plants and promote air
circulation through the canopy.
periodic applications of a copper based
fungicide is usually enough to control the
disease
24. Uses
Guava fruits may be eaten fresh or processed
to produce paste, jellies or preserves.
Dehydrated fruit is used to make guava
powder.