STUDIES ON GENETIC IMPROVEMENT OF Punica granatum L. (WILD POMEGRANATE)
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Date
2022-07
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Publisher
UHF,NAUNI
Abstract
ABSTRACT
The present investigation entitled “Studies on Genetic Improvement of Punica granatum L. (wild
pomegranate)” was carried out in the Department of Tree Improvement and Genetic Resources, Dr. Yashwant Singh
Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan, Himachal Pradesh during 2019-2022. Four site viz.,
Narag (S1), Waknaghat (S2), Jonaji (S3) and Nauni (S4), each with three genotypes, were selected for reproductive
studies and the data obtained was analysed using suitable methods i.e. CRD for laboratory experiments and RBD for
field experiments. Hybridization was carried out using three lines at Narag site and nine tester from threes sites viz.,
Waknaghat (S2), Jonaji (S3) and Nauni (S4), each site with three testers, followed by testing of paternity through ISSR
markers. Results revealed that the genotypes of the site Waknaghat and Jonaji showed early flowering as compared to
genotypes of the site Narag and Nauni. Leaf size (leaf length=4.59 cm; leaf width=2.25 cm and leaf area= 5.89 cm2)
and flower size (petal length=20.16 mm and number of stamens=360.84) at Narag were better than the other selected
sites. Pollen viability was maximum (84.02 %) for the genotypes at Nauni site, however germination of fresh pollen
(72.40 %) and stored pollen (36.52 %) was highest for the Narag site. Results of the hybridization study revealed that
cross S1G3×S2G3 performed best for the physical fruit characters viz., fruit length (5.82 cm), fresh fruit weight (84. 65
gm), fresh rind weight (43.40 gm), fresh aril weight (41.25 gm) and number of arils per fruit (303.25), and for total
soluble solids (16.59 °B). cross S1G2×S2G2 performed best for nursery growth characters at later stages viz., twelve
months (plant height=70.90 cm; collar diameter=5.16 mm and number of leaves per plant=211.47) and eighteen
months of age (plant height=83.67 cm; collar diameter=7.38 mm; number of leaves per plant=284.07 and leaf
width=2.59 cm). Tester S2G1 and S2G2 were better combiner among all the testers for plant height, collar diameter,
number of leaves per plant, leaf length, leaf area and petiole length. Additive variance was higher than the dominance
variance and contribution of testers was higher than the line and Line × Tester interaction for all nursery characters
except for the number of branched per plant at eighteen months of age. Number of leaves per plant showed maximum
heritability, however maximum genetic gain was estimated for the leaf area, due to the greater phenotypic variation in
the leaf area as compared to the number of leaves per plant. S1G1×S2G1, S1G2×S2G2, S1G2×S2G3, S1G3×S2G1,
S1G3×S2G2 and S1G3×S3G2 cross showed positive heterosis over better parent for all nursery growth characters. ISSR
primers viz., ISSR-UBC-811, ISSR-UBC-823, ISSR-UBC-827, ISSR-UBC-836, ISSR-UBC-840, ISSR-1, ISSR-3 and
ISSR-8 were helpful in the confirmation of paternity of the hybrids. The finding of present study can be utilized for
pomegranate breeding programme through pollen collection from early flowering genotypes, selection of suitable
parents on the basis of their combining abilities and paternity testing by ISSR markers