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Research Programme

Horticulture

lFruits and Perennial Cropsl lNurseriesl

The following persons were involved in the Horticulture Programme:

The establishment, maintenance and monitoring of field collections

A wide genetic base of material having both local and foreign origins plays a crucial role in the development of any fruit industry.  Scientists can manipulate these materials to produce new and improved fruit species, which can ultimately impact significantly on production and quality.

In Guyana, genetic material is confined to a few species that have been in production over a continuous period of time.  There is also the tendency of some farmers to utilise seedling material for propagation purposes, which can impact negatively on production and quality.

The production of new and improved fruit species combined with advanced propagation techniques can perpetuate and sustain fruit quality and market stability.

Germplasm plots and pilot orchards of both foreign and local fruits were established in different locations of the country.

Results and Achievements

The two rainy periods of this year were extreme cases in that the mid year period was particularly intense, while the end of year period was much curtailed. Both of these conditions adversely affected the supplying and maintenance of germplasm plots, which continued, to a limited extent during the year. Also scion, budwood and other seed material were collected on a regular basis for propagation and production purposes. 

Avocado

Fourteen of the twenty-four grafted plants with Brazilian scion material, that were eventually planted out at Kairuni, survived to the end of the year.

Data of the harvested fruit collected over the years 1999 to 2001 from the producing trees are summarised as follows:

	Average Amount of Fruits Harvested from Each Tree per Year of Each Variety – Appendix  II
	Average Weight (Kg) of the Fruit of Each Variety – Appendix II
	Average over years 1999-2001 of Fruit collected each Month of Each Variety – Appendix III

Cashew

In an attempt to combat the chronic fungal infestation of the Cashew plants at Kairuni, a new spray regime of Trimiltox Forte in rotation with Benlate or Phyton commenced at the beginning of the year. However, probably due to the extreme adverse weather, little change was observed.

Citrus

Maintenance work of the budded and seedling plants in the multiplication blocks and orchards at Mon Repos, Kairuni and Timehri continued during the year. Also growth measurements of the new plants started at Kairuni. 

Mango

Maintenance work of the grafted plants with scion material, from Brazil and Puerto Rico planted at Mon Repos, continued during the year.

However, adverse weather conditions coupled with a fire that razed through the Mango plot, left only 27 plants of the 47 previously planted out. The fire also burnt down all the Long Mango seedlings, which were however replanted later in the year.

Passion Fruit

All of the Passion Fruit plants, both the local and the Brazilian variety, in Field 18 at Mon Repos, died during the year to a disease infestation (primarily Alternaria Leaf Spot), and is to be replanted.

At Kairuni, maintenance work continued on the experimental plot of both Brazilian and local varieties.

Pineapple

Over the years, the pineapple plants, mainly of indigenous varieties in the museum plot at Mon Repos, showed poor growth and development. Furthermore, due primarily to predial larceny, fruits were lost before they had attained maturity, when proper evaluation of type and other characteristics could be recorded. Also, replanting material became scarce as only the occasional side shoot was left available.

A decision was therefore taken to relocate this plot to Kairuni and this was achieved during this year.

Sour Sop

Maintenance work of the local and Brazilian varieties continued at Kairuni. During the year, two of the Brazilian varieties as well as the local variety started fruiting, and a summary of the fruiting data collected by year-end, is presented in Table 1 below.

Table 1: Sour Sop at Kairuni – Fruiting Data for 2002

The selection and propagation of two phenotypes of Montserrat Variety of Pineapples

The commercial variety of Pineapples grown in Guyana is the Montserrat. In this variety, the traditional and more common fruit shape is conical. However, a cylindrical shaped fruit, which is better suited for processing, also occurs but is less common. It would therefore be a distinct advantage if the cylindrical type could be produced in pure stands, while still retaining the other properties of the Montserrat pineapple.

The selection of the plants, according to the set criteria, was conducted on farms on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway and Canal No.1. The main fruit characteristics were recorded and basal slips, Rapid Vegetative Multiplication as well as Tissue Culture was used to propagate plants of each of the selected types.

 At the end of 1999, plants from the first two propagation methods were planted out at Mon Repos where observations on the progeny were to be made. This did not materialise.

 Eventually, plants from the tissue culture propagation of each type became available. These were planted out at Kairuni during the year for observation on the fruit type and other main fruit characteristics at fruiting time.

 Results and Achievements

Plants were maintained at Kairuni during the year.

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