In vitro Pollen germination of Hermaphrodite Flowers of Wild Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) in Western Himalayas

Author: Jyoti Dhiman, Tara Gupta and R.K. Gupta

Download PDF

Abstract

The study on pollen germination is important for monitoring pollen-stigma interaction, crop improvement, breeding, incompatibility, and fertility studies. The genotypes of wild pomegranate were selected at two locations viz., Tatool (S1), Solan district and Narag (S2), Sirmour district of Himachal Pradesh. This species consists of three types of flowers i.e., male, Intermediate and Hermaphrodite. The presented study was carried on pollens collected from hermaphrodite flowers of selected genotypes of wild pomegranate. In vitro pollen germination of hermaphrodite flowers was observed in seven different concentrations of sucrose and boric acid solutions i.e., 5 percent sucrose, 10 percent sucrose, 10 percent sucrose solution + 10 ppm boric acid, 12.5 percent sucrose solution, 12.5 percent sucrose solution + 10 ppm boric acid, 15 percent sucrose and 20 percent sucrose to find the best sucrose concentrations for germination. The germinated pollen was counted for 48 hours until there was no

Keywords

pollen germination, boric acid, sucrose, hermaphrodite flower, wild pomegranate

Conclusion

Reproduction rate, fruit production of this species depends upon the proportion of fertile flowers (hermaphrodites), percentage of pollen germination. As this species comprised of and romonoecious types of flowers i.e., male and hermaphrodite types of flowers. Hermaphrodite flowers are more fertile than male flowers. Therefore, the use of pollens of hermaphroditic flowers for reproduction, breeding purposes can gives a higher success. Since very few studies have been conducted on wild pomegranate, it can be used by the breeder as a guide for the development of highly productive disease resistant strains of wild pomegranate. Also, development of cross hybrids of cultivated and wild types. Here we identified more than 50 percent rate of germination of pollen collected from hermaphrodite flowers. In-vitro pollen germination is also a reliable method to test the pollen viability. It also addresses many basic questions in sexual reproduction and particularly useful in wide hybridization

References

-

How to cite this article

Dhiman, J., Gupta, T. and Gupta, R.K. (2021). In vitro Pollen Germination of Hermaphrodite Flowers of Wild Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) in Western Himalayas. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 13(3a): 769-773.