Guava (Psidium guajava) is largely cultivated in Northeastern Brazil where it is a very important crop. However few researches have investigated the plant pollination requirements. This knowledge can help in managing orchards to improve crop productivity. Therefore, the present study is aimed at investigating the pollination requirements of guava. The study was carried out with cultivar paluma and treatments of open pollination, restricted pollination, hand self-pollination and hand cross pollination among plants of the same and different cultivars were tested. Guava set fruits when pollinated by wind or biotic agents, but flowers protected from flower visitors set only 15.09%. Guava flowers set fruits when were hand self-pollinated, but cross pollinated flowers showed better results because raised fruit production up to 39.5%. The presence of biotic pollinators promoting cross pollination in guava orchards seems to be necessary to maximize crop productivity.
Psidium guajava; self pollination; cross pollination
