Assessment of the Germ Plasm of Apple (Malus pumila Mill.) Grown in Kashmir

II. Cytology of Rikhal Saharanpuri, Acc. 1877 and Kharoo

Abstract

Three varieties of Malus Pumila, namely, Rikhal Saharanpuri, Kharoo and Acc. 1877 have 2n=51 and are therefore, triploids. Although not as good as diploids, triploids are certainly superior to tetraploids, in the quality of fruit. Data on chromosome pairing in triploid PMC's are indicative of intergenomal homology, which speaks of their auto- or segmental allotriploid nature. Despite triploidy, fruits of all three varieties bear varying number of seeds carrying well developed embryos. The nature of seed is being explored.