Studies on variability in physico-chemical traits and multiplication of Daru (wild pomegranate) collections

Anardana (wild pomegranate) or ‘Daru’ is found scattered throughout Doda district of Jammu province. A survey was carried out to identify the elite genotypes among the natural population. The ripe fruits of 12 selected genotypes were analysed for physico-chemical characteristics like fruit weight, length and breadth, seed weight per fruit, rind weight per fruit, juice content, total soluble solids (TSS), acidity, total sugars, reducing sugars, and tannins. Individual fruit weight ranged from 85.64 to 131.60 g with fruit length from 5.52 to 7.42 cm, fruit breadth 5.17 to 5.99 cm, seed weight 34.60 to 56.0 g/fruit and peel weight from 49.04 to 68.0 g/fruit. The chemical characters also showed a wide variation. Total soluble solids varied from 11.0 to 15.5°B, titratable acidity 5.26 to 6.80%, total sugars from 9.32 to 13.86% and tannins from 121.12 to 149.70 mg/100 ml. The stem cuttings of these genotypes were raised for comparing their vegetative multiplication. The survival of cuttings ranged from 25–30%. A wide variation in physico-chemical characters of wild pomegranate genotypes indicated the scope of individual plant selection based on these characters for its genetic improvement.