Diversity Distribution Analysis of Guava (Psidium guajava L.) Populations in Cultivated and Wild Habitats in the Mid-Hills of Uttarakhand, India

Abstract

Guava is an exotic fruit crop in India, and its occurrence in wild forests in the mid-hills of the Himalayas is a rare and unique phenomenon in its distribution. In the Ramganga valley of Pithoragarh district, Uttarakhand, a naturalized population of guava (in wild habitat) was chanced upon beside cultivated guava, hence a study was conducted to assess the population structure, phytosociology, diversity distribution patterns, and fruit variability of the guavas. Various ecological parameters like frequency, density, abundance, and A/F ratio were used to study the guava and associated species including tree seedlings in five selected sites. The highest Shannon diversity values (H = 0.367) for guava were found at Pipaltar village. Significant variability was recorded for the fruit color (pale yellow, dark yellow, pink, and whitish), fruit shape (long, round to pear-shaped), fruit length, fruit diameter, fruit weight, pulp color (white to pink), fruit maturity, and total soluble solids (TSS) content of fruits sampled from different sites. The population of maximum similarities and divergence was categorized. The present study highlights that guava is regenerating successfully in the mid-hills of Uttarakhand and that the introduction of guava in the region is not affecting the diversity of other indigenous species.