Unravelling floral biology, phenology and breeding system of Punica granatum L. in Jammu division

Wild pomegranate (Punica granatum L.), an important fruit in tropical and subtropical regions like Central Asia and Northern India, is highly valued for its economic and medicinal benefits. However, despite its potential, natural production of the fruit is hindered by pest damage and variation in fruit yield due to environmental factors. Genetic improvement and a deeper understanding of the phenology and reproductive behavior are essential for enhancing its yield, creating superior genotypes, and ensuring sustainable cultivation and conservation. Thus, the study was conducted in Udhampur and Rajouri districts of Jammu and Kashmir focusing on the floral biology and phenology of wild pomegranate. Field investigations covered sex ratios, flowering events, pollen viability, and breeding system. The study reveals that Udhampur has a slightly higher proportion of andromonoecious plants compared to Rajouri. Hermaphrodite flowers in Rajouri demonstrate superior reproductive traits, including higher anther counts, pollen production, and fruit set. Floral biology reveals a clear phenological sequence, with anther dehiscence occurring 120 h post-anthesis, followed by stigma receptivity after 24 h, promoting cross-pollination. The calculated fruit set rate is 72.7% in Rajouri and 65.7% in Udhampur districts exceed their respective reproductive efficiencies. In vitro pollen germination analysis revealed that male pollen consistently outperformed hermaphrodite pollen at all tested temperatures, particularly at 4 °C, while both types experienced decreased germination rates at higher temperatures. Pollination experiments show significantly higher fruit set in cross-pollination methods, particularly xenogamy. Wind pollination shows a clear decline in pollen deposition rates with increasing distance from the source, indicating that proximity greatly influences pollen distribution and emphasizing the importance of pollinators. Collectively, these findings contribute to a deeper understanding of plant reproductive ecology and have implications for the conservation and management of this species in varying climatic conditions.