Vol. 8, Issue 12, Part A (2024)

This study investigates the floral biometry of different pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) cultivars grown in the semi-arid region of Bundelkhand, Uttar Pradesh, conducted from 2020 to 2021. The focus was on flower biometry, including parameters such as bud dimensions, stamen, stigma, style, pistil lengths, ovary width, and the number of sepals and petals. The study recorded significant variations in flower bud growth, with bud lengths at 20 days ranging from 1.98 cm in Arakta to 2.91 cm in Bhagwa. Bud width varied between 1.04 cm in Bhagwa and 1.41 cm in Ganesh. The stamen length ranged from 7.21 mm in Jalore Seedless to 9.04 mm in Mridula. The stigma + style length varied from 5.8 mm in Arakta to 11.7 mm in Jalore Seedless. Ovary widths ranged from 4.92 mm in Arakta to 6.35 mm in Jalore Seedless, while pistil lengths ranged from 10.7 mm in Arakta to 20.7 mm in Jalore Seedless. The number of sepals and petals per flower was consistent across cultivars at 6. The number of stamens in hermaphrodite flowers ranged from 309 in Arakta to 374 in G-137, while male flowers had 273.75 stamens in Jalore Seedless and 341.75 in G-137. Flower anthesis, observed in two-hour intervals, showed the highest flowering rates between 10 am and 12 noon, with an average of 33.84% of flowers blooming during this period. The total flower opening across all cultivars was highest at 10-12 pm, with Mridula showing the greatest flowering rate of 25.53% between 8-10 am. This study provides valuable insights into the floral characteristics of pomegranate cultivars, aiding in the optimization of cultivation strategies for semi-arid regions.