Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi.
1 Though identical in principal and nature, both inflorescence and flowering habit were variable in expression and manifestation in different varieties. The inflorescence in general was determined to be a dichasial cyme.
2. Different varieties of pomegranate had different flowering seasons. Under Delhi conditions, Dholka, Kandhari, Muscat White, and Patiala flowered only once a year; 0. B.-l and Japanese Dwarf flowered twice and Double Flower ornamental variety bloomed thrice a year. The varieties having the same number of flowering seasons differed also in their specific flowering periods.
3. Japanese Dwarf required the longest period (27 days) for bud development and Patiala required the shortest (14 days). Double Flower took the longest time for petal shed (6–7 days) in comparison to the fertile varieties which took only one to two days. There seems to be a positive correlation between the period of bud development and fruit setting.
4. The percentage of hermaphrodite flowers was highest in Japanese Dwarf (53.85) and lowest in Kandhari and 0. B,-l (25 and 25.45), No hermaphrodite flowers were found in Double Flower variety. The percentage of hermaphrodite flowers was highest during the early part of the flowering season and it decreased with the advance of the flowering season.
