Morphological, biochemical and male-meiotic characterization of apple ( Malus × domestica Borkh.) germplasm of Kashmir Valley

Abstract

Kashmir Valley represents the richest repository of apple germplasm in India. A total of six cultivars based on commercial value namely Kullu Delicious, Gole Delicious, Lal Ambri, Raj Ambri, American Trel and Ambri Cross were studied using 38 morphological characters with main emphasis on fruit and leaf morphology. The fruit characteristics such as shape, size, flesh and skin colour, pH, TSS and fruit firmness are the most important market value traits of apple which together determine the quality of apple and its commercial success. All the six cultivars exhibited distinct characteristics with respect to these traits. Based on fruit quality traits, the cvs. Kullu Delicious, Lal Ambri and American Trel are highly acceptable in the Indian fruit market compared to other cultivars which have not attained commercial status as yet. All the six cultivars were found diploid with 2n=34. Chromosomal abnormalities such as univalents, precocious separation, non disjunction, disturbed anaphase and telophase, polysporads etc. were noticed during the male-meiotic analysis.