Effect of Pre-Harvest Bagging on Pomegranate cv.Salimi Fruits Characteristics

Abstract

This study was carried out on 5-yrs old pomegranate trees cv.Salimi grown in a private orchard located at Otomaniyah area, Diyala Governorate, Iraq during 2018 and 2019 growing seasons to study the effect of Pre-harvest fruits bagging on reducing pomegranate fruit disorders and improving fruit quality. The bagging treatments were, Control (without bagging), Fruit bagged with green, white, red and purple colors bags. Treatments started on May30 during both seasons. Non-woven fabric bags (25x25cm) was used in fruit bagging. Bags were removed two weeks before harvesting date. The obtained results showed that, bagging fruits with white bags gave the highest average of fruits weight, Aril percentage, 100 aril weight, total soluble solids(%), total sugars and anthocyanins during both seasons compared to other Bagging treatments, whereas there is no significant differences between the bagging treatments in nutrient content of the fruit peel. on the other hand these treatments reduced cracked fruits and sunburn percentage, and increased the moisture content of the fruit peel compared to the Control (without bagging).