Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

STUDIES ON POLLEN VIABILITY AND FLORAL BIOLOGY IN GRAPEFRUIT (CITRUS PARADISI MAC FADYEN) CULTIVARS UNDER SUBTROPICAL CONDITIONS OF PUNJAB, INDIA

A.K. Baswal, H.S. Rattanpal, Gurupkar Singh Sidhu and Gurteg Singh Uppal

Abstract

Assessment of pollen viability is an essential tool to check the level of sterility as it limits sexual hybridization. The percentage of viable pollen of five grapefruit cultivars was evaluated. The viability percentage values ranged from 30.50% for ‘Marsh Seedless to 41.75% for ‘Ray Ruby’. The ‘Ray Ruby’ cultivar showed the highest percentage of viable pollen, while the lesser viable pollen was recorded in ‘Marsh Seedless’. The cultivars Ruby Red, Red Blush and Marsh Seedless showed the lowest percentage of viable pollen (37.0%, 36.50% and 30.50% respectively). Among flower characters, cultivar Marsh Seedless recorded highest flower diameter (36.83 mm), while Ray Ruby recorded highest flower length (25.86 mm). Petal length and petal width was recorded maximum in Marsh Seedless and Ray Ruby (18.99 mm and 8.42 mm, respectively).