Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

STUDIES ON FLOWERING AND FRUITING RHYTHMS OF ‘CRISTAL’ GUAVA (PSIDIUM GUAJAVA L.) AT THREE DIFFERENT LOCATIONS, INDONESIA

R.A.D. Widyastuti, S. Susanto, M. Melati and A. Kurniawati

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explain the relationship between agroclimate variables with flowering and harvesting pattern of 'Cristal' guava plants at three locations namely Lampung (5p12'7"S, 105p46'13"E), Bogor (6p3'27"S, 106p43'54"E) and Sukabumi (7p0'7"S, 107p1'6"E). The lowest temperature, the highest relative humidity and rainfall were found in Sukabumi. Lampung and Bogor were relatively similar in term of temperature and relative humidity, although the rainfall was higher in Bogor than Lampung. The research was conducted through survey method since May 2016 to November 2017 in the mentioned sites. Flowering period happened in May to July, November to January, and back to May to July on the next year. Fruiting period was September to October, March to April, and back to September to October on the next year. The numbers of day required from flower bud emerge to harvest varied among locations, i.e 127 days in Lampung, 131 days in Bogor and 144 days in Sukabumi. Plant in Lampung and Bogor showed almost similar flowering and fruiting time, while in Sukabumi showed those periods two weeks later. The variation of both periods was associated with the variation of agroclimate among the locations. The higher temperature, the lower relative humidity and the lower rainfall intensity such in Lampung accelerated the flowering and harvesting of guava, along with the improvement of flower and fruit production.