Micropropagation of Punica Granatum L and Olea Europaea L

Abstract

Punica granatum L. (Pomegranate) is one of the oldest edible fruit tree which newlinebelongs to the Lythraceae family. It is indigenous to Central Asia, Iran, Afghanistan, newlinePakistan and Himalayas in Northern India. Apart from the nutritional fruit, it has other newlineapplications as dye and ornamental plants. The cultivar Phule arakta is a high newlineyielding, early variety released for commercial cultivation by the Mahatma Phule newlineKrishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri, Maharashtra, India. Though it has been released, its newlinecultivation is limited to various regions of Maharashtra and propagated only through newlinecuttings carried out during late winter. In vitro techniques were explored as a basis for newlineconservation and large scale propagation for commercialization. The Mediterranean Olive, Olea europaea L. is an evergreen, long lived tree belonging to Oleaceae family. Its most important application is for oil extraction from seeds which has high beneficial health effect. The olive fruit is also consumed in the form of pickle which constitutes an important part of the Mediterranean cuisine. It is native to the Mediterranean region where it has been cultivated for their oil since the third millennium BC. The cultivar Barnea was bred in Israel for oil production suitable to mechanical harvesting with features such as early production, medium to high oil content and erect growth allowing closer plantation as compared to other newlinevarieties. newline newline