Articles
FLOWER BIOLOGY OF POMEGRANATE CULTIVAR ‘GANESH’ UNDER SOLAPUR CONDITIONS OF MAHARASHTRA – A PRELIMINARY STUDY
Article number
890_30
Pages
221 – 226
Language
English
Abstract
Eulogized as the tree of life, pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) belongs to the family Punicaceae. In depth information on flower biology is an indispensable pre-requisite for complete comprehension of crop improvement.
Pomegranate is capable of producing profuse flowers throughout the year.
The flower biology varies with cultivar, weather, place and period of study.
Hence, experiments were initiated on blossom biology of pomegranate during 2008-09 in the cultivar Ganesh. The cultivar flowered thrice in a year i.e., during ambe bahar (January-February), mrig bahar (June-July) and hasth bahar (September-October). Observations were recorded with respect to flower bud initiation, commencement, cessation and duration of flowering, period of anthesis and its peak time, dehiscence, etc.
The weight of the mature, ready-to-crack flower bud ranged from 2.2-2.8 g per flower.
The time taken for flower bud differentiation ranged from 19.9 to 23.5 days.
The mean weight of hermaphrodite, intermediate and male flower was found to be 4.82, 2.62 and 1.71 g respectively.
The hermaphrodite flowers featured the miraculous phenomenon heterostyly. The pistil lengths of hermaphrodite, intermediate and male flower were found to be 2.00, 1.55 and 0.65 cm, respectively.
The pollen viability with acetocarmine stain ranged from 85 to 94%. The flowers were selfed and the fruit set was found to be in the range of 16.66 to 31.57%. In this investigation, other aspects of flower biology are also mirrored in depth.
Pomegranate is capable of producing profuse flowers throughout the year.
The flower biology varies with cultivar, weather, place and period of study.
Hence, experiments were initiated on blossom biology of pomegranate during 2008-09 in the cultivar Ganesh. The cultivar flowered thrice in a year i.e., during ambe bahar (January-February), mrig bahar (June-July) and hasth bahar (September-October). Observations were recorded with respect to flower bud initiation, commencement, cessation and duration of flowering, period of anthesis and its peak time, dehiscence, etc.
The weight of the mature, ready-to-crack flower bud ranged from 2.2-2.8 g per flower.
The time taken for flower bud differentiation ranged from 19.9 to 23.5 days.
The mean weight of hermaphrodite, intermediate and male flower was found to be 4.82, 2.62 and 1.71 g respectively.
The hermaphrodite flowers featured the miraculous phenomenon heterostyly. The pistil lengths of hermaphrodite, intermediate and male flower were found to be 2.00, 1.55 and 0.65 cm, respectively.
The pollen viability with acetocarmine stain ranged from 85 to 94%. The flowers were selfed and the fruit set was found to be in the range of 16.66 to 31.57%. In this investigation, other aspects of flower biology are also mirrored in depth.
Publication
Authors
K. Dhinesh Babu, R. Chandra, J. Sharma, V.T. Jadhav
Keywords
flower biology, ‘Ganesh’, pomegranate (Punica granatum L.)
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