Assessment of Genetic Variability for Growth Attributes in F₁ Hybrids and Open-pollinated Progenies of Guava (Psidium guajava L.)

The present investigation assessed genetic variability in growth attributes among 128 F₁ hybrid and open-pollinated guava (Psidium guajava L.) progenies at the Department of Fruit Science, Dr. YSRHU-College of Horticulture, Anantharajupeta, Andhra Pradesh, during 2024–2026. The progenies comprised 12 from Allahabad Safeda × Lalit, 23 from Allahabad Safeda × ARP selection, 50 from Lalit × ARP selection and 43 open-pollinated progenies of Allahabad Safeda. Growth attributes were evaluated using the genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV), phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV), broad-sense heritability, genetic advance (GA) and genetic advance as a percentage of the mean (GAM). For every measured trait, PCV was slightly higher than GCV. Canopy volume showed the greatest variability, with GCV and PCV values of 43.37% and 43.93%, respectively. Plant height and east–west and north–south canopy spread exhibited moderate variability, whereas stem girth showed low variability. Broad-sense heritability was high across all five traits, ranging from 85.26% to 98.35%. Canopy volume had the highest GAM (88.32%), followed by plant height (39.14%), east–west canopy spread (29.22%) and north–south canopy spread (27.45%); stem girth had a lower GAM (16.13%). These findings identify useful variation in vegetative growth traits within the evaluated population, particularly for canopy volume. Further assessment of yield and fruit-quality attributes is required before identifying progenies with superior overall horticultural performance.