Studies on pollen viability in pomegranate (Punica granatum L.)

Abstract

The present investigations entitled “Studies on pollen viability in pomegranate (Punica granatum L.)” was conducted at pomegranate blocks, Department of Fruit Science, Dr Y S Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan house during in lieu of conducting hybridization studies. Six soft seeded cultivars namely Ganesh, G-137, Dholka, Nabha, Jodhpur Red, Mridula and three hard seeded cultivars namely Kandhari Hansi, China Seedling and Bush Large were used for pollen studies. Pollen viability assessed by Acetocarmine solution (2%), Tetrazolium solution (1%) and Erythrosine B (0.1%). The pollen viability in Acetocarmine ranged from 90.79 to 97.86 per cent whereas in Tetrazolium and Erythrosine B, pollen viability varied from 88.94 to 97.13 per cent and 80.76 to 94.65 per cent respectively.