In Vitro Multiplication Studies in Pomegranate (Punica Granatum L.)

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L. ) is an economically important commercial fruit crop of arid and semiarid regions of the world. The plant is said to be originated from Iran and has been extensively grown in India. The fruits of pomegranate are known to possess nutritional, pharmaceutical and therapeutic properties. The potential health benefits of fruit made high demands for pomegranate in both domestic and international market. Conventionally pomegranate is propagated vegetatively by the rooting of hard wood cuttings and air layering, which is hectic and time consuming. Apart from that seed culture induces heterogeneity. In recent years the bacterial blight disease caused by Xanthomonas compestris pv. punicae and wilt caused by Ceratocysis fimbriata causing enormous losses to the crop and both bacterial blight and wilt are transmitted mainly through planting material. Plant tissue culture has been extensively utilized for the improvement of many commercial plants now days. Hence it was decided to undertake in vitro multiplication studies in pomegranate.