Cytogenetic investigation in pomegranate (Punica granatum L.): A meta-analysis

Punica granatum L. (pomegranate), is among important horticultural plants which is cultivated in many parts of the world and appreciated for its fruit value and medicinal properties. Several pomegranate cultivars are cultivated in Iran which differs in fruit characteristics and agronomical features. In spite of economic importance of pomegranate cultivars, limited knowledge is available on genetic and cytogenetic peculiarities of these cultivars. Therefore, we aimed to investigate cytogenetically twelve unreported cultivars and also compile all available data on chromosome pairing, chiasma frequency and meiotic irregularities in 88 cultivars and carry on a meta analysis. We found all cultivars to have 2n = 2x = 16 chromosome number, but significantly differed in all meiotic features studied. Most of meiotic features studied were significantly correlated while PCA analysis revealed that characters like chiasma frequency and distribution as well as ring bivalents are associated to each other and differentiated the cultivars which were distributed towards longitude. Similarly, characters related to meiotic irregularities such as chromosome stickiness and anaphase failure differentiated the cultivars which were distributed toward altitude. PCA plot placed pomegranate cultivars in three major groups due to meiotic difference. Data obtained can be used in future conservation and breeding of pomegranate.