SEED SOURCE STUDIES IN WILD POMEGRANATE (Punica granatum L.) IN HIMACHAL PRADESH
Loading...
Date
2019-01
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
UHF, NAUNI
Abstract
ABSTRACT
The present investigations entitled “Seed Source Studies in Wild Pomegranate (Punica
granatum L.) in Himachal Pradesh” was carried out in the Department of Tree improvement and
Genetic Resources, Dr. Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry Nauni, Solan (HP) during
2017-2018 with the aim to evaluate the seed sources on the basis of phenotypic characters,
morphometric characters, seed traits, fruit characteristics and nursery stage growth performance of the
half sibs. Present study was conducted by selecting five trees each of the ten seed sources namely
Narag (S1) and Neripul (S2) district Sirmour, Waknaghat (S3) and Sadhupul (S4) district Solan,
Basantpur (S5) district Shimla, Sundernagar (S6), Rewalsor (S7) and Aut (S8) district Mandi, Mohal
(S9) and Banjar (S10) district Kullu. Phenotypic studies revealed that Neripul (Sirmour) seed source
had higher phenotypic values as compared to other seed sources. Leaf morpholological and
morphometric characteristics were maximum in Sadhupul (Solan) with higher leaf area value of 12.66
cm2 and Mohal (Kullu) with maximum leaf petiole 0.5 cm which was significantly higher than other
seed sources. Sundernagar (Mandi) seed source have shown highest (70.46 %) germination
percentage followed by Basantpur (Shimla) with the value of 67.71 %. Fruit characteristics were
found better from Banjar (Kullu) seed source because of larger fruit size having the average fruit
length and breadth of 38.83 mm and 39.53 mm respectively. The biochemical analysis for fruit pulp
revealed that Sundernagar seed source was best for TSS and sugars followed by Rewalsor, Banjar and
Basantpur seed sources. For nursery stage growth performance seedlings height was found maximum
(56.63 cm) in Waknaghat (Solan) seed source followed by Sundernagar which is significantly lower
values (56.00 cm) for height. Among all the half sibs Banjar (Kullu) seed source had minimum
seedling height. Important traits like 100 dry seed weight was found maximum in Neripul (Sirmour)
with the value of 3.53 g which was highest among other seed sources. High heritability and genetic
gain was found in seedling height (0.9, 64.82 %), tree height (0.98, 42.08 %), seed germination (41.64
% genetic gain), fresh fruit weight (0.35, 26.65 %). The findings of the study on fruit quality, seed
traits and seedling performance indicate that significant gains can be achieved through selections at
seed source level but individual tree selections can be exercised for fruit characters as a basis of the
tree improvement and breeding program of wild pomegranate.
Description
Keywords
null