2. 2
Scientific classification
Kingdom : Plantae
Division : Magnoliophyta
Class : Magnoliopsida
Subclass : Rosidae
Order : Myrtales
Family : Punicaceae
Genus : Punica
Species : granatum
Binomial name : Punica granatum
3. 3
Common Names: Pomegranate, Granada (Spanish), Grenade
(French), Anar (Hindi)
Origin: The pomegranate is native of Iran
Adaptation:
• Altitude – 1850m MSL
• Semi-arid with cool winter and hot summer
• Deciduous or Evergreen
• Hot and dry climate during fruit development and
ripening
• Optimum temperature – 380C
• Sweetness ∞ temperature
• Deep loamy to alluvial soil
4. 4
World Scenario
Popular in Eastern as well as Western parts of the
world
Mediterranean region, Spain, Iran, India, Turkey, South
East Asia, Afghanistan, tropical Africa, parts of USA etc
It is grown for its fully luscious grains called ‘Arils’; the
fruits are very attractive with sweet acidic taste
The fruits are mainly used for dessert purposes
The fruits are also processed to make juice, syrup,
jam, jelly, wine, to flavour cakes, baked apples, etc
Of late, its nutritional and medicinal values are given
ample importance
5. 5
Indian Scenario
According to the data published by
National Horticulture Board of India
the area decreased from 109.00
thousand ha in 2008-09 to 107.00
thousand ha in 2010-11
similarly, the production has
decreased from 807.00 thousand tons
to 743.00 thousand tons during the
same period
6. 6
Year Area in 000’ HA Production in
000’ MT
Productivity
(MT/HA)
2008-09 109.00 807.00 7.40
2009-10 125.00 820.00 6.60
2010-11 107.00 743.00 6.90
9. 9
Two species:
Punica protopunica
• found wild in Socotra Island(Yemen)
Punica granatum: 2 subspecies
• Chlorocarpa - found in Trans Caucasus
• Porphyrocarpa - found in Central Asia
10. 10
Cultivars
Ganesh:
• Selection from ‘Alandi’
• Developed by Dr. Cheema at
Pune
• Prolific bearer, fruit very large, rind
yellowish red, pinkish aril with soft
seeds
• Commercial cultivar of Maharashtra
• The average yield ranges from 8-
10 kg per tree.
11. 11
Phule Arakta:
• Pre-released in the year 1989, now released as ‘Phule Arakta’ by
MPKV, Rahuri
• Heavy yielder, fruits are bigger in size
• sweet with soft seeds, bold red arils
• It also possess glossy, attractive,
dark red skin
• High yield (30-35 kg/tree)
• Fruits are ready for harvesting
within 120-135 days (Early variety)
·
12. 12
Mridula:
• Ganesh X Gul-E-Shah Red
• This variety has all the characters of the Ganesh variety
except the arils are dark red in colour
• The colour of the arils in 'Ambe' bahar and 'Mrig' bahar is
dark red in colour while it is pink during the 'Hasta' bahar
• The average fruit weight is 250-300 grams
14. Dholka: Popular variety of Gujarat with fruits of large
size, rind greenish yellow, flesh aril pinkish white seeds
soft, juice acidic, suitable for processing
Jodhpur Local: Medium sized fruit with hard rind, fleshy
aril light pink, sweet, juicy, seed moderately hard
Bassein Seedless : from Karnataka. Flowers throughout
the yearFruit medium to large in size, rind brownish
green, fleshy aril, TSS 16-17 0 Brix
Ruby: Multiple Hybrid from IIHR, yield 16-18t/ha
In South India, ‘Paper Shell’, ‘Spanish Ruby’, ‘Muscat Red’
& ‘Velladu’ have shown promise
14
15. 15
Balegal
Cloud
Crab
Early Wonderful
Fleshman
Green Globe
Home
King
Phoenicia:(Fenecia)
Sweet
Utah Sweet
Wonderful
Francis
Granada
Green Globe
16. 16
Botany
Shrub with multiple trunks and has a
bushy appearance
Grows upto 5m when domesticated and
more than 7m under wild condition
Deciduous tree
Young branches are polygonal
(quadrangular) and round when mature
Stiff angular branches often spiny
Leaves oblanceolate, obtuse and
acuminate
18. 18
Flowering occurs 1 month after bud break
Bears in both season growth on spurs
Terminal flowers are in cluster while flower on spurs are mostly
solitary
Flower are red in colour with 5-8 crumbled petals
Three types: Hermaphrodite flowers (vase shaped) , male flowers
(bell shaped) and intermediate
Cultivars with higher vase shaped to bell shaped ratio will have
higher yield potential
Stigma receptive one day before anthesis and continues upto the
second day. Anthesis completed in 3-5 hours
Self pollinated and cross pollinated
Heterostyly- hermaphrodite (pin) and male flowers (thrumb)
Flowers
19. 19
Fruit
Develops from the ovary and is a fleshy berry
Fruit is crowned by a prominent calyx
Connected to the tree with a short stalk
After fruit set, sepals change colour from orange red
to green
In later stage of maturation colour changes again
until final characteristic colour is obtained
21. 21
• The multi-ovule chambers (locules) are separated
by membranous walls (septum) and fleshy
mesocarp
• The chambers are organized in a nonsymmetrical
way
• Usually the lower part of the fruit contains 2 to 3
chambers while its upper part has 6 to 9 chambers
• The chambers are filled with many seeds (arils)
• The arils contain a juicy edible layer
• Colour of the edible layer vary depending upon the
variety
• The arils vary in size and the seeds vary in
hardness
• The fruit ripens in 5-8 months
23. 23
Cutting:
Hardwood cutting is most common
One year old fully mature wood are utilised
or
Suckers which arise from the base of the
stem
Cuttings are 20-25cm long
IAA 200ppm or IBA 50ppm increased the
rooting percentage
Set in beds with 1-2 buds above the soil for 1
year
24. 24
Micropropagation
Depends on factors such as genotype, explant,
season, media and growth regulators
Mahisi et.al. (1991)- shoot tip as explant
Drazeta (1997)- apical vegetative bud as
explant
Yang and Ludders(1993)- nodal leaf and stem
as explant
Complete protocol for in vitro regeneration
using cotyledonary nodes reported by Naik
et.al. (2000)
25. 25
Planting and Plant density
Square or hexagonal system
Pit size: 60cm3
Spacing: 5 x 5m
Planting density is the yield contributing factor
Investigation at MPKV, Rahuri showed that
increased plant density also increased yield per
hectare without affecting fruit quality
1000 plants(4x2.5m) gave 2.30 time higher
yield and 2.44 times more profit than normal
density of 400 plants(5x5m).
26. 26
Training and pruning
Training:
Multiple stem training
Main stem is pinched at a height of
about one metre from the ground
surface
4-5 well distributed branches are
allowed to grow on all sides
The desired shape is obtained within 2-3
years
28. 28
Training on a single stem is not advocated since
Tree produces suckers
Highly susceptible to stem borer
Plants are allowed to grow as a bush with a
number of main shoots arising at ground level
Too many stems also hinder interculture
operations
Maintenance of 3-4 stems per plant is
recommended
30. 30
Pruning:
Removal of suckers (water sprouts),
dead and diseased branches
Developing a sound framework
Limited pruning of the bearing tree
Annual pruning during winter should be
confined to shortening of the previous
season’s growth
31. 31
Pruning delays bud sprouting, flower
appearance and harvesting
Highest yield from unpruned trees
Pruned trees gave-
Better quality
Increases fruit size,juice content and TSS
Reduced sun scorched and internal
breakdown
32. 32
Irrigation:
regular irrigation during initial phase
Also from flowering to ripening of fruits
Drip preferred over traditional check basin system
Manuring and fertilization:
FYM – 20kg per tree at the onset of monsoon
N- 1000g, P2O5- 1000g K20- 1500g per tree
Foliar spray of 0.25% ZnSO4, FeSO4, and MnSO4
and 0.15% boric acid increased yield
33. 33
Mulching:
Black polyethylene mulch resulted in
the best plant growth, earliest flowering
and highest yield
Intercropping:
Desirable since crop takes 4-5 years to
come to good bearing
Low growing vegetables and pulse
crops
34. 34
Crop Regulation:
Withheld watering two months prior to
normal flowering season
After two months, applied manures and
fertilizers and give light irrigation
3-4 days later, heavy irrigation at
normal interval
35. 35
Three flowering season:
Ambe Bahar (February-March)
Mrig Bahar (June-July)
Hasta Bahar (September-October)
36. 36
Flower thinning:
Sevin (carbaryl) and NAA
Fruit growth and development:
Single sigmoid growth pattern
Linear increase in size, diameter, volume and
weight except specific gravity which
decreased gradually
Color changes from greenish to deep pink
with red and yellow patches at maturity
Aril/rind and TSS/acidity ratio increases
37. 37
Effect of Growth Regulators:
Desai et al. (1993)
NAA(250ppm) + carbaryl(0.7%) = large fruits(≥200g)
Manual removal of flowers + GA(20ppm)= Large fruits with
highest mean weight(224.2g)
2,4-D @ 20ppm on cv. Ganesh at flowering and 45 and 90
days later increased fruit length, girth, weight and volume
Glutathione @ 25, 50 or 75 ppm applied 3-4 weeks after
anthesis improved the TSS:Acid ratio and decreased the
percentage of fruit cracking
38. 38
Effect of Bagging:
Hussein et al. (1994) reported
Bagging reduced the percentage of fruit fly (Virachola
livia)
Increased fruit yield per tree, individual fruit weight and
size, TSS:acid ratio
Improves the rind colour and reduced the rust patches
Reduced fruit cracking
39. 39
Harvesting and Yield:
Ready in 5-7 months after the appearance of blossoms
Skin turns slightly yellow
The fruit gives a metallic sound when tapped
Tree starts yielding from 4th year onwards giving 20-25 fruits per
tree
10th year 100-150 fruits per tree
Average yield : 200-250 fruits per tree
Economic yield : 25-30 years
40. 40
Ripening and storage
It is a non climacteric fruit
Can be kept well for 2 months at 0oC, one month at 4.5oC
and 15 days at room temperature
Bavistin @0.2% enhanced shelf life upto 30 days at room
temperature and prevents post harvest fungal rot
RH: 80-85%
CA storage with 6.0:3.0%(CO2:O2) showed minimal quality
and weight loss
41. 41
Pests
Pomegranate butterfly or fruit borer:
Virachola isocrates; V. livia
Most important and widely distributed
Symptoms: Offensive smell, excreta of caterpillars
come out of the entry holes
Apply metacid 50 EC 1ml/l at fortnight interval
Foliar application of synthetic pyrethroids @ 150g a.i/ha
43. 43
Bark eating
caterpillar:
Inderbela tetraonis; I.
quadrinotata
Bores the bark and feed inside
old trees
10-12 holes in a badly infected
tree
One caterpillar in each hole
Injecting quinalphos @0.05%
and fenvalerate @0.01% along
with petrol and kerosene
44. 44
Stem borer:
Olenecampetus bilobus
Common in neglected orchards
Makes hole and bore through the
branches
Main trunk is mostly affected
Control same as bark eating
caterpillar
45. 45
Leaf footed plant bug:
Leptoglossus mambranaceus
Adult bugs damaga the fruits
Pierce the rind of the ripening fruits with their
strong proboscis
Infested fruits drop down
Spray malathion @ 0.1%
46. 46
Sap sucking insects:
Mealy bugs, scale insects, white flies, thrips,
aphids, mites
Prune the affected parts
Spray malathion @ 0.1%
Bag worm: Clania cramen
Carob moth: Ectomyelois ceratoniae
Nematode: Meloidogyne Incognita and M.
javanica
47. 47
Diseases
Fruit spot:
Dreschslora rostrata
Small irregular spots surrounded by greenish
yellow border
Infestation extends to inner tissues causing
browning of the aril
Pruning the dead and diseased branches
Spray dithane M-45 or captan @ 500g in 200l of
water
48. 48
Fruit rot:
1. Glomerella cingulata
Discoloration of fruits from lower part or the sides
Discolored areas become brown to black
Whole fruit rots in a week
2. Phomopsis sp
Rainy season
Flowers fail to set fruit
Young fruits drop
Yellow to black spot all over the fruit
Pruning affected twigs and fruits and burning them
Bavistin @0.5%, Dithane M-45 @ 0.25% spray
49. 49
Leaf spot:
Bacteria- Xanthomonas punicae
Fungi- Pseudocercospora punicae, Curvularia lunata, Colletotrichum
gleosporoides
Indefinite black color spots on upper surface of the leaf extending rapidly
Blackish or brownish spots on the fruits
Spraying dithane M-45@ 0.2%, Captan @ 0.1% at 15 DI or Copper
oxychloride @ 0.2%
50. 50
Postharvest diseases
Aspergillus rot - Aspergillus nidulans
Internal rot – Aspergillus clavatus
Soft rot – Rhizopus arrhizus
Spicaria rot – Spicaria spp.
Black mould – Aspergillus niger
Bortrydiplodia rot – B. theobromae
Penicillium rot – Penicillium expansum
Control by preinfection dip in 500ppm 2,4-D or spraying of
sulphur compounds on packing straw
52. 52
Disorders
Fruit cracking or splitting:
Frequent in dry atmosphere of the arid regions
Cause: (i)Due to sudden change in soil moisture
content (ii)Deficiency of Ca or B
Fruits though sweeter lose keeping quality and unfit
for shipment
Adequate and regular
irrigation and interculture
53. 53
Sun Scald:
• Causes: Fruits on trees mainly facing
direct sun rays reveal sun scald.
Improper pruning is one of the reasons
• Nature of damage: Peel of affected fruits reveal sun
Burn symptoms reducing market value of such
fruits
• Detection and diagnosis : Affected fruits reveal sun
burn particularly on the fruit surface
54. 54
Internal break down of arils:
• Causes: Complex (Exact cause to be established) Delayed
harvesting, Varietal character, Nutritional deficiency etc
• Nature of damage :blackening and rotting of arils and the
fruits become unfit for consumption
• Detection and diagnosis : Mainly
affects fruits which appear healthy
but when cut, reveal disco loured ,
rotten and shrivelled arils. Studies
on diagnosing the disease are
inconclusive
55. 55
Pomegranate
decline:
Cause: sudden drop in
temperature in late
autumn and early
winter when the trees
are not fully dormant
Detection and
diagnosis: yellowing,
wilting and death of
some branches
56. 56
Breeding and Improvement
Three methods:
1. Collection of superior germplasm
from indigenous and exotic sources
2. Improvement by selection
3. Controlled hybridization
57. 57
Objectives
To obtain suitable types which produce small soft seeds with
attractive red (pink) aril
To develop easily manageable upright growth habit of the tree
To develop thornless twigs, a desirable character as it helps in
cultural management of the tree
To develop varieties resistant to fruit borer (Virachola isocrates)
and fruit rot (Phomopsis spp.)
To develop varieties free from fruit cracking
58. 58
Biotechnology
The problem of stem borer can be tackled by using Bt
genes
Protocols for somatic embryogenesis are available
Biochemical and molecular markers can be use for
characterizing wide amount of variability and genetic
resources
Anther culture shown promising
59. 59
Grade Grade requirements Grade tolerances
Extra class • superior quality
• shape, and colour typical of
the variety
• free of defects
5% (no. or wt.)not
satisfying the
requirements of the
grade, but meeting
those of class I grade
Class I • good quality
• a slight defect in shape,
colour and skin (i.e. scars,
scratches,scraps and
blemishes) not exceeding
5% of the total surface
area
10% of pomegranates
not satisfying the
requirements of the
class, but meeting
those of class II
Class II Defects as above not
exceeding 10% of the total
surface area
10% by of
pomegranates not
satisfying the
requirements of the
grade, but meeting
the minimum
requirements
61. 61
Packaging
• For export purposes, a cardboard corrugated fibreboard box of
4.0 or 5.0 kg capacity is used
• The dimensions of such boxes depending upon the capacity are:
S.No. 4 Kg Box 5 Kg Box
1 375 x 275 x 100 mm 480 x 300 x 100 mm
64. 64
Exports and export potential
A. Domestic Strengths for Exporting Pomegranate:
India is the largest producer of pomegranates in the world
India produces finest varieties of pomegranate having soft seeds,
very less acids and very attractive colour of the fruits and grains
With adoption of different “bahars”, India can supply
pomegranates almost throughout the year
Maximum cultivation of pomegranate is in states of Maharashtra
and North Western Karnataka which are very close to the western
port of Mumbai for exporting to Gulf and European countries
65. 65
Agri Export Zone for enhancing exports of pomegranate has
been established in Maharashtra state
There is strong research support for scientific cultivation of
pomegranate like Nrc for Pomegranate Solapur, MPKV, and
IIHR
Bhagwa variety has high acceptance in European market
Farmers have been trained for export quality production and
have registered with GLOBALGAP certification
66. 66
B. Exports:
The major Markets of India’s pomegranate during the year 2011-12
were UAE, Bangladesh, Netherlands, UK, Saudi Arabia and Russia.
68. 68
C. Measures for enhancing competitiveness for
export
Our efforts needs to be towards lowering production cost by
increasing productivity
Setting up special production areas in east zone for export to
SE Asian countries through eastern port
Packhouse facilities need to be established
Popularising the brand
Manipulation of flowering to avoid competition from other
exporting countries
Endorsing to other countries by holding fruit fairs, exhibitions
etc
69. Health Benefits of Pomegranate
Super food
Rich in antioxidants
Good for heart
Reduce blood sugar levels
Reduce blood pressure
Eliminate free radicals
Harmonize immune system
Slows down ageing
69
70. 70
References
Bose, T. K., Patil, A. V. and Karale, A.R. 2002. Pomegranate. In: Bose, T.
K., Mitra, S. K. and Sanyal, D. (eds), Fruits: Tropical and Subtropical
Volume-II(3rd Ed.).Naya Udyog, Calcutta, pp. 125-162
APEDA. Pomegranate [On-line]. Available:agriexchange.apeda.gov.in/Mar
ket%20 Profile/MOA/Product/Pomegranate.pdf (1 march 2015)
Holland, D., Hatib, K. and Bar-Ya’akov, I. 2009. Pomegranate: Botany,
Horticulture, Breeding. In: Janick, J.(ed.) Hortic. Rev. 35:127-191