Variability in custard apple (Annona squamosa) genotypes for quality characters from Gujarat

An extensive survey was made for determining variability for physical and biochemical traits and find out the elite custard apple (Annona squamosa L.) genotypes having good fruit quality from diversity rich area of Gujarat, i.e. Malphur, Santrampur, Poyali, Hathinimata and Godhra during 2015. The twenty five custard apple genotypes collected from different location of Gujarat were evaluated for fruit physic-chemical characters. Result of study reveal that custard apple genotypes showed wide type of variability with respect to fruit weight (110.45-335.37 g), fruit length (45.32-84.12 mm), fruit breadth (55.28-95.92 mm), pulp weight (50.75-205.87 g), rind weight (33.47-143.28 g), rind thickness (2.29-4.73 mm), specific gravity (0.83-1.37), no. of seed/fruit (18-63), seed weight (7.27-26.12 g), seed length (9.40-14.90 mm), seed width (5.10-8.32 mm), seed thickness (2.90-5.10 mm), total flakes (22-68), flakes with seed (12-63), flakes without seed (2-25), flake length (17.72-28.85 mm) and flake breadth (10.15-18.36 mm). Similarly, the chemical quality attributes also varied significantly among different genotypes. TSS of pulp varied between 26.61-32.63 (o)Brix; acidity 0.20-0.30; ascorbic acid 18.25-38.24 mg; TSS/Acid ratio 88.70-174.72; total sugars 12.48-17.55%; Mg 21.24-38.65 mg; K 257.26-295.74 mg; Na 4.26-15.27 mg and Ca 15.35-21.43 mg. Wide range of variability in physico-chemical attributes of custard apple genotypes showed the scope for superior plant selection based on these parameters. The genotype GC(12), GC(13), GC(18) and GC(20) were found superior with their respective qualitative characters than the other genotypes.