Integrated characterization of gamma-induced pomegranate mutants using morphological, pathological and SSR-based...

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Plant Breeding
• Genetics

Background:

• Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is a key fruit crop, recognized for its nutritional and medicinal value.
• Mutation breeding is a vital tool for crop improvement, inducing genetic variability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate pomegranate mutants developed through gamma irradiation for enhanced horticultural traits.
• To perform molecular characterization of these mutants for genetic diversity assessment.
• To identify superior pomegranate lines for cultivar development.

Main Methods:

• Standardized LD50 dose for gamma irradiation across three pomegranate cultivars using probit analysis.
• Conducted morphological evaluations using UPOV descriptors and disease tolerance screening against bacterial blight.
• Utilized 26 SSR markers for molecular characterization, analyzing polymorphic information content (PIC), effective multiplex ratio (EMR), and marker index (MI).
• Performed cluster analysis to group mutants based on genetic similarity.

Main Results:

• Identified distinct genetic profiles among pomegranate mutants, with varying PIC, EMR, and MI values.
• Cluster analysis revealed genetic divergence and grouped mutants according to genetic similarity.
• The 'Daru' cultivar demonstrated significant tolerance to bacterial blight, showing the lowest disease severity (6.57-10.20%).

Conclusions:

• The integration of morphological and molecular data successfully identified promising pomegranate mutant lines.
• Mutation breeding is effective for pomegranate genetic enhancement, providing valuable resources for cultivar improvement.
• The study highlights the potential of selected mutants as breeding resources for enhanced pomegranate varieties.