STUDIES ON REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY OF WILD POMEGRANATE (Punica granatum L.)
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Date
2014
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
UHF,NAUNI
Abstract
ABSTRACT
The present investigation entitled “Studies on Reproductive Biology of Wild Pomegranate
(Punica granatum L.)” was carried out at two sites namely Tatool (S
1
) and Narag (S
2
) in the
Department of Forest Genetic Resources, Dr. Y. S. Parmar University of Horticulture & Forestry
Nauni, Solan (HP) during 2013-2014. The phenological studies inclusive of phenophases, vegetative
characters and reproductive characters observed earlier in Tatool (S
1
) followed by the second site:
Narag (S2
). There was significant variation observed in leaf morphometeric characters within trees.
Maximum values for leaf size and leaf area was observed for those leaves borne on lower position of
trees in both the sites. The reproductive bud appear on axillary and terminal position of the tree in
cymose inflorescence. On the basis of sizes and development stages, the flower buds were assorted
into ten different stages. The protogynous stigma was firstly seen protruding out with the onset of
anthesis and the receptivity period was recorded to persist till third day. The stigma protrudes out of
the calyx during the ninth bud stage and it is protogynous in nature and becomes receptive one day
before anthesis. Anthesis of flowers was observed to take place 10 am to 2pm. Pollen germination
percentage of freshly collected pollen was higher in 12.5% sucrose + 10 ppm Boric Acid. Fresh
pollen viability percentage was higher in hermaphrodite flowers for all the trees. The pollinations
success among different breeding system was maximum observed in open pollination. The pollination
success observed for controlled pollination between different trees of both sites was higher than open
pollination, geitenogamy and selfing. The flowers were foraged during daytime by different species
of insects representing bees, black ants and birds. The nursery growth performance of the progeny
seedlings also studied and the maximum mean seedling height was recorded from T
3
S
2 x T
4
S
1
(73.15
cm), whereas maximum mean collar diameter (6.59 mm) was registered by the T
4
S
2 x T
1
S
1
progenies.
Description
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