Clonal lines´ selection from Cuban Red Dwarf (EEA 18-40) guava, to be used in its genetic development and propagation

Abstract

The present work was carried out with the objective of evaluating and selecting in field conditions clonal lines of guava (variety Enana Roja, EEE 18-40) according to the fruit’s characters. The plants used were obtained in vitro from seeds of mature fruit. The following fruit characteristics of the different micropapagated lines were evaluated: weight, longitudinal and transversal diameter, pulp weight, relation seed-pulp and width of the fruit’s flesh (exocarp and mesocarp). There were significant differences between the lines, where lines A-9 and A-33 were superior to the rest of the treatments with an average fruit weight of 395.1 and 345.0 g, relation seed-pulp of 11.6 and 13.0% and the width of the fruit’s flesh 2.05 and 1.93 cm respectively. The selected lines are recommended for works on propagation and genetic improvement. Key words: fruits, micropropagation, variability, yield