Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi
(1) Cytology of six important pomegranate varieties viz., Dholka, Doubh Flower, G.B.-l, Kandhaii, Muscat White and Putiala was studied.
(2) A satisfactory technique for squashing and smearing was standardised The swarm of cell inclusions (mostly tannic acid) which impeded the observations were removed by boiling with hydrogen peroxide and a pinch of mild alkali (lithiun carbonate) added to it or treating with cold perchloric acid prior to staining These helped greatly in obtaining clear preparations.
(3) Both 2n 16 (Dholka, G.B.-l, Kundhuri, Muscat White and Patiala) anc 2n = 18 (Double Flower) chromosome types were detected in pomegranat varieties.
(4) All the somatic chromosomes in the six varieties studied, were found tc possess median primary constrictions and at least one pair of chromosomes was large) than the rest.
(5) Meiosis studied in Dholka and Muscat While showed clear eight bivalents at first metaphase and subsequent stages were found to be normal. One rod bivalent markedly bigger than the rest was found. Chiasma frequency per bivalent at first metaphase was 1.76 and 1.74 in Dholka and Muscat White respectively.
