Beat the Drop! Guava Flower Care Quiz Quiz

Explore the essentials of guava flower management with practical questions on practices that influence yield and fruit quality. Perfect for anyone interested in optimizing flower retention and minimizing drop in guava cultivation.

1. Optimal Flower Thinning Timing

   At which stage should flower thinning typically be performed in guava plants to achieve the best fruit size and quality?

   1. Before bud emergence
   2. During fruit maturity
   3. At leaf fall
   4. Just after full bloom

   Explanation: Thinning just after full bloom allows growers to manage the fruit load for better size and quality. Doing it before bud emergence might remove too many potential flowers, while during fruit maturity or at leaf fall is too late to affect fruit development. The correct timing ensures the remaining flowers can develop fully without excessive competition.

2. Major Cause of Guava Flower Drop

   Which of the following is the most common environmental factor contributing to flower drop in guava orchards?

   1. Frost
   2. Low soil pH
   3. High soil salinity
   4. Water stress

   Explanation: Water stress, especially during the flowering stage, often leads to increased flower drop in guava. Frost is less common in typical guava-growing regions, high soil salinity primarily affects root and shoot growth, and low soil pH generally impacts nutrient availability more than flower retention.

3. Role of Growth Regulators in Flower Retention

   How can the use of plant growth regulators like NAA (naphthaleneacetic acid) influence guava flowering?

   1. Reduce flower drop
   2. Delay fruit ripening
   3. Increase pest infestation
   4. Decrease branch growth

   Explanation: Growth regulators such as NAA are applied to guava to help reduce premature flower drop by stabilizing hormonal balance. They are not directly linked to pest infestation, do not specifically delay fruit ripening, and do not primarily decrease branch growth in this context.

4. Best Practice for Irrigation During Flowering

   What is considered the most suitable irrigation practice for guava trees during the critical flowering period?

   1. Irrigate only at night
   2. Withhold watering entirely
   3. Flood the orchard
   4. Provide regular, moderate irrigation

   Explanation: Regular, moderate irrigation ensures that water stress is minimized during flowering, supporting flower retention. Withholding water stresses the plants, flooding may cause root problems, and irrigating only at night does not specifically offer benefits during flowering.

5. Impact of Pruning on Flower Production

   How does strategic pruning before the flowering season benefit guava flower management?

   1. Encourages new shoot and flower production
   2. Increases pest overwintering
   3. Promotes excessive leaf drop
   4. Decreases light penetration

   Explanation: Pruning before flowering promotes new shoot growth, which increases the number of sites for flower development. Excessive leaf drop is usually a negative effect, while decreased light penetration and increased pest overwintering are more likely with neglected pruning, not strategic cuts.