Characterization of phenotypic and floral diversity in seedling populations of Punica granatum L. in the North-Western Indian Himalayas

Abstract

This study investigated the phenotypic and floral morphological variability among seedling-derived Punica granatum L. genotypes in the northwestern Himalayan region of India. Conducted over two growing seasons (2022-2023), a survey and characterization of 46 indigenous pomegranate genotypes were performed in the Doda and Kishtwar districts of the Jammu subtropics. Our results revealed significant variation in key floral traits, with specific genotypes exhibiting superior characteristics; for instance, JMU (Pom-2) displayed the longest calyx length and width (5.12 cm, 1.90 cm) and similarly JMU (Pom-2) the longest corolla (3.44 cm) and widest corolla (3.11 cm). Importantly, these seedling-origin genotypes demonstrated distinct morphological profiles compared to existing commercial cultivars. This identified phenotypic diversity represents a valuable genetic resource, offering promising avenues for future pomegranate breeding programmes aimed at crop improvement and adaptation.