Mineral composition, pigments, and postharvest quality of guava cultivars commercially grown in India

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Five guava cultivars (one red and four white fleshed) were characterized for primary elements (N, P, K), micro elements (Fe, Mn, Zn), pigments (carotenoids and chlorophylls), and other postharvest fruit quality characteristics. A significant variation was recorded in fruit weight (∼75–354 g), fruit length (∼33–73 mm), fruit diameter (∼41–86 mm), specific gravity (1.04–1.19) and fruit shape index (0.73–1.08). A wide variation in TSS (∼13-10%), titratable acidity (0.42–0.77%), sugar/acid ratio (∼7–13) and total sugar (4.02–6.88%) content was also recorded. There was a significant variation in pigments (mg/100 g) such as chlorophyll-a (∼5–12), chlorophyll-b (∼2–4) and carotenoids (∼33–66) among different cultivars. Primary nutrients such as N, P, and K were found to vary between 1.00-1.70, 0.12–0.15 and 2.60–3.28%, respectively. Micronutrients such as Fe, Zn, and Mn were varied between 42.25-64.23, 13.88–18.38, and 2.93–8.23 ppm, respectively. As there is limited information available on elemental and other postharvest characteristics of guava cultivars, results of this work could be useful in the development of new varieties with elevated nutrient potential. • Assessed primary and trace nutrient elements of five commercial guava cultivars. • Postharvest qualities were characterised. • First detailed report on the elemental composition of guava. • Cultivars KG guava, Lalit and Allahabad Safeda were found the most promising. • Results could develop new breeding strategies for varietal improvement.