High Frequency Regeneration in Punica Granatum L

Punica granatum L. (Pomegranate) is an economically important commercial fruit crop. The plant is extensively grown in India. 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.