Breeding of new seeding guava cultivar 'Jindouxiang'

Abstract：‘Jindouxiang', a new cultivar with excellent characteristics was selected from wild seeding guava. In 1995, maternal tree of‘Jindouxiang'was initially discovered in Tanzhou town of Zhongshan city for the strong fruit flavor. By the method of grafting, it was planted in experimental orchard in 2008. Through two years observations about growing and fruiting, it was selected as a superior line. After regional adaptability testing at three sites (including Tanzhou Suifeng Plantation and Shenwan Plantation, Zhongshan and Xinhui Fruit Farm, Jiangmen) over five years from 2011 to 2015, ‘Jindouxiang'was finally selected in 2016. Tree of‘Jindouxiang'is vigorous with ramose crown and open tree gesture. Its leaves are dark green, long oval, and opposite. Flower is bisexual and white. Fruit is oval with small size, and its peel is yellowish-white. The pulp is white, and taste delicate, tender, and with a strong aroma and unique flavor. The average and the maximum single fruit weight are 84.8 g and 191.7 g, respectively. Soluble solid content, vitamin C, titratable acid and total sugar content was 12.0%, 2.16 mg · g-1, 0.25% and 7.63%, respectively. Fruit aroma of‘Jindouxiang'contains high content of esters with 22.49%, and the relative content of the aldehydes and alcohols were 58.07% and 8.56%.‘Jindouxiang'can sprout new shoots in all the year round, the young trees can shoot up to 5-7 times a year while the fruiting tree is 4-5 times. The full-bloom stages of‘Jindouxiang'are late April to the beginning of May and late August to the beginning of September. The corresponding mature periods are July, December, and these periods can last 75-80 days and 110-120 days, respectively.‘Jindouxiang'has a strong adaptability, and suitable area in Guangdong province for wild guava is suitable for this new cultivar.Planting grafted seedlings directly is recommended for orchard. When the height of young seedling is 50-60 cm, it needs topping to facilitate the lateral tip growth. The height of fruiting tree trunk is 30 cm.The technique of reshaping and pruning is about erasing redundant buds, branch drawing, thinning dense branches, cutting back and adjusting density of branches. Fertilizer is applied 8-10 times a year for the fruiting tree. The N∶P2O5∶ K2O ratio of fertilizer is 1∶0.5∶2. Fruit thinning can retain good fruit with latent ability, usually each branch retains 1-3 fruits. The main insect of guava is fruit fly Bactrocera dorsalis, and fruit-bagging can effectively control this pest when the fruit size reaches 2 cm. The‘Jindouxiang'guava grows rapid with strong branch, and its comprehensive characteres are good and stable.