Pomegranate Trees Research Articles

Effect of a new remediated substrate on bioactive compounds and antioxidant characteristics of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) cultivar ‘Purple Queen’

ABSTRACTThe maritime ports and terminals periodically carry out dredging activities. This operation is necessary in order to avoid the excessive accumulation of sediments in the areas of maneuvering and berthing of ships. Thus, the objective of this study was to investigate the effect that dredged remediated sediments have on the quality and bioactive components of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) cultivar ‘Purple Queen’. Pomegranate trees were grown on three substrate-based treatments: Peat 100% (Pt as a control), dredged remediated sediments 100% (DRS), and a 50% mixture of each (Pt-DRS). Pomegranate fruits and two types of juices (juice of arils and juice of arils plus carpellary membranes) were characterized. The results showed that the use of dredged remediated sediments 100% (DRS) negatively affected yield, numbers of fruit per tree, and fruit weight average of pomegranate fruits. However, neither fruit quality nor composition of pomegranates grown on this substrate and mixture were affected. The tested media showed suitable horticultural properties for pomegranate cultivation, at which the Pt and Pt-DRS had better plant responses than the DRS one.

Relationship of plant water status and leaf gas exchange with fruit cracking of pomegranate

Plant water status and leaf gas exchange as influenced by micronutrients, kaolin and water management were studied to establish a relationship with fruit cracking in pomegranate in arid regions. Observations were recorded on fruiting pomegranate trees that were maintained under different water status and leaf gas exchange through mulching of tree basins and foliar spray of borax (0.4%), zinc sulphate (0.5%), kaolin (4.0%) with respect to fruit cracking, LWP, RWC, stomatal conductance, transpiration, photosynthetic rate and difference between ambient and leaf temperature of fruiting branch. The results showed that per cent fruit cracking was associated with reduction in leaf water potential, stomatal conductance and leaf transpiration. Such a situation coupled with high relative water content and photosynthetic rate as observed under combined sprays of borax (0.4%) + ZnSO4 (0.5%) and borax (0.4%) + ZnSO4 (0.5%)+ kaolin (4%) reflects the possible relationship of fruit cracking with selected physiological parameters. Plant water status also influences leaf gas exchange parameters and subsequently growth which may indirectly affect cracking in pomegranate fruits.

Reducing incidence of peel physiopathies and increasing antioxidant activity in pomegranate fruit under different irrigation conditions by preharvest application of chitosan

No previous information exits on the effect of preharvest chitosan, a plant biostimulant and antitranspirant, which has been considered as a food additive by the USFDA, spraying on pomegranate trees. Then, the effect of chitosan spraying in fully irrigated and water stressed trees on yield, fruit quality and the occurrence of fruit peel physiopathies was studied. Some of these effects were negative such as the reduction in fruit weight and the less reddish and duller appearance of the arils. However, these negative aspects could be regarded as being compensated by other very important positive effects, such as the increase in the antioxidant activity and the significant reduction in fruit peel cracking or splitting and fruit sunburn physiopathies occurrence, which would considerably improve the returns of pomegranate growers.

Factors Affecting the Response of Pomegranate Fruit to Alternaria alternata, the Causal Agent of Heart Rot.

Heart rot, caused by Alternaria alternata, is a major pomegranate disease that impacts production worldwide; most fruits in orchards are colonized by A. alternata but, nevertheless, symptoms are apparent on only a small proportion of the colonized fruits. During the years of our previous research it was noticed that within individual orchards, the incidence of pomegranate fruits exhibiting heart rot symptoms was related to the visual appearance of the trees: trees that appeared visually frail bore more diseased fruits than robust trees. Furthermore, it was noticed that the disease responses of different pomegranate accessions and possibly of different variants of the same cultivar varied markedly. The specific objectives of the present study were: (i) to characterize the relationship between the visual appearance of pomegranate plants or individual stems and the incidence of heart rot and their vulnerability to heart rot; and (ii) to elucidate factors affecting the response of pomegranate fruit to A. alternata. Analysis of heart rot incidence in four orchards in 2014 revealed large differences in heart rot incidence among trees growing side by side in the same orchard; these differences were related to the visual appearance of the pomegranate trees. There were significant differences among germination rates of A. alternata spores in juice prepared from asymptomatic fruits originating from these trees, and comparable differences were found among the acidity levels (pH) of the juices. These differences may reflect differences among the physiological responses of pomegranate trees to heart rot. Fruits collected from the pomegranate collection located in Newe Ya'ar, which comprised 95 accessions in 2015 and 110 accessions in 2016, were also examined. There were differences among the acidity levels (pH) of the juices produced from these fruits and among the germination rates of A. alternata spores in the juices. These differences may reflect variances among the genetic responses of pomegranate accessions to heart rot. Results of studying the relationship between the acidity levels of pomegranate juice and the germination rates of A. alternata spores supported the hypothesis that, apart from pH, a compound(s) present in the juice regulates the germination of A. alternata spores in the juice.

Sucrose synthesis in Unpollinated ovaries of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.), as well as, in reproductive and vegetative shoot apices

Sugar levels, the enzyme activity of UDP-Glucose Pyrophosphorylase (UGPase) and Sucrose Phosphate Synthase (SPS), key enzymes for sucrose synthesis, and the expression of their respective genes were examined in developing vegetative and reproductive shoot apices and in developing unpollinated ovaries of Pomegranate trees in order to detect differences possibly important for fruit production and plant vigor. The level of total sugars was higher in ovaries, followed by reproductive apices and vegetative apices, suggesting higher energy requirements in the reproductive organs. Moreover, the activities of SPS and UGPase were found to be elevated in the vegetative apices, indicating that sucrose synthesis is possibly differently regulated in comparison to the reproductive organs. Our results suggest that the sink power of each organ primarily regulates the levels of both transported (sucrose, mannitol) and non-transported (fructose, glucose) sugars. However, the endogenous production of sucrose may be a regulatory factor contributing to organ development.

Assessment of different ETO-Dependent Irrigation Levels for Pomegranate on Saving Water and Energy and Maximizing Farm Income

Field experiments were conducted on drip–irrigated pomegranate (Punicagranatum L.) trees grown in a private farm at kilometer 76 Cairo/Alexandria Desert Road, Egypt during the 2016 and 2017 growing seasons. The site represents newly reclaimed sandy soil at the west of Nile Delta region. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effect of different ETo-dependent irrigation levels on amounts of applied irrigation water, water consumptive use, fruit yield and its components, fruit quality, water use efficiency, water productivity, and to develop a local pomegranate crop coefficient (Kc) and yield response factor (Ky) under the experimental conditions, as well as the effect on saving energy and increasing farm income. Four irrigation treatments (120, 100 and 80, and 60% ETo) were compared to farmer irrigation practice. The experimental treatments were laid out in strip plot design with four replicates. Results indicated that distribution uniformity values, conducted at the beginning of each season, were 88 and 90 % in 1st and 2nd seasons, respectively. The 2–season average amounts of applied irrigation water for the 120, 100, 80, and 60% ETo and farmer treatment were 13520, 11270, 9020, 6760, and 18075 m3 ha-1, respectively. Average values of total fruit yield were 40.2, 38.6, 36.9, 23.8, and 31.8-ton ha-1 for the same respective treatments. The highest fruit diameter and weight were produced from irrigation with 120% ETo. The Kc values for the 120% ETo irrigation treatment were 0.14-0.45, 0.45-0.79, 0.79-1.05, and 1.05-0.76 for initial, crop development, mid- and late-season growth stages, respectively. Results showed that pomegranate yield response factor (Ky) was 0.81 indicating that pomegranate trees are moderately tolerant to water stress. Application of the proposed irrigation treatments reduced consumed energy by values varied from 25 to 62% compared with farmer irrigation. The 2-year average net income values of the 120, 100, 80, and 60% ETo irrigation treatments were 117, 106, 91, and 3% higher than that of farmer practice. Under the experiment circumstances it could be concluded that, irrigating pomegranate trees at 80% ETo level saves 9055 m3/ha of applied irrigation water and 50% of the electric energy In addition, the highest figures of water use efficiency (4.7 kg fruits/m3 water consumed), water productivity (4.1 kg fruits/m3 water applied), and net income (91% more), were achieved compared with farmer practice.

Effect of preharvest fruit bagging on fruit quality characteristics and incidence of fruit physiopathies in fully irrigated and water stressed pomegranate trees

BackgroundThis report studied the response of pomegranate fruit under full irrigation (FI) and water stress conditions to bagging with externally glossy, single‐layer, cellulosic paper bags, open at the bottom, from the end of fruit thinning to harvest time.ResultsBagging decreased fruit size and the maturity index, and increased antioxidant activity in FI conditions. Moreover, fruit bagging substantially reduced the incidence of peel sunburn in both irrigation conditions.ConclusionThe delay in fruit growth and ripening as a result of pomegranate fruit bagging is outweighed by the very important commercial benefit in terms of the reduced incidence of peel sunburn and the increase in fruit antioxidant activity. © 2018 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Effect of some Micro-nutrients, Silicon and GA3 Spraying on Yield and Fruit Quality of Pomegranate

Little is known about the response of pomegranate to the foliar application with nutrients and gibberellic acid. A randomized complete block design (RCBD) experiment was conducted on 40-years old Manfalouty pomegranate trees grown on Upper Egypt. The study aims to investigate the effect of foliar application with gibberellic acid (GA3), potassium silicate (PS), zinc sulphate (ZS) and fetrilon compi (FC) which is a mixture of micronutrients on fruiting of pomegranate trees.

Influence of organic mulches and irrigation levels on growth, yield and water use efficiency of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.)

A field experiment was carried out at Solapur, Maharashtra during 2015-2017 on 4 and 5 year old plants of pomegranate having treatments composing of 4 organic mulches (i.e.No mulch, wheat straw, sugarcane baggas and safflower straw) and 5 different irrigation levels (i.e. 0.30 to 0.80 * ETr) through drip irrigation under split plot design. Amount of applied irrigation water for different treatments varied from 2597 to 9218 Liters per season per tree. The results indicated that organic mulches and irrigation level had significant effect on leaf area index, nos. of fruits, yield and water use efficiency. The highest water use efficiency was estimated with sugarcane baggas while the lowest WUE was estimated in no mulch.The mean maximum plant height, number of fruits, weight, growth, LAI,yield and WUE was evaluated at 0.50*ETr and 0.60*ETr irrigation level and sugarcane baggas mulch is the best for 4 and 5 old age pomegranate tree.

Foliar nutrient applications to ‘Wonderful’ pomegranate (Punica granatum L.). II. Effects on leaf nutrient status and fruit split, yield and size

Abstract Though pomegranates are beginning to be farmed more intensively, little is known about pomegranate leaf nutrient concentrations or the effects of foliar nutrient applications on those concentrations, including for one of the industry’s standard cultivars, Wonderful. Foliar nutrient applications could potentially be used in commercial pomegranate production, not only to improve plant nutrient status, but also to prevent physiological disorders, such as pomegranate fruit split, the most important physiological disorder in pomegranate production. Pomegranate trees at two ‘Wonderful’ commercial orchards were treated with foliar applications of zinc sulfate (ZnSO4; 0.3%, 0.4%, and 0.5%), magnesium sulfate (MgSO4; 1%, 2%, and 3%), potassium nitrate (KNO3; 1%, 2%, and 3%), or deionized (DI) water (control). Leaf mineral nutrient concentrations were determined and fruit were analyzed for fruit split incidence, yield, fruit number per tree, fruit diameter, fruit mass, aril mass, and mass of 100 arils. Leaf Zn concentrations were significantly higher in response to all foliar ZnSO4 treatments. Foliar applications of KNO3 resulted in significant increases in leaf N and K concentrations and foliar MgSO4 resulted in a significant increase in leaf S concentration. All foliar fertilizer types resulted in significantly lower fruit split incidence at one of the study sites. The foliar fertilizer treatments did not have a significant effect on fruit number per tree, fruit diameter and mass, mass of all arils in fruit, or mass of 100 arils. The results suggest that foliar ZnSO4, MgSO4, and KNO3 could be used to improve pomegranate nutrient availability and to decrease pomegranate fruit split incidence without negatively impacting fruit yield or size of ‘Wonderful’ pomegranate.

Promising Impacts of Humic Acid and Some Organic Fertilizers on Yield, Fruit Quality and Leaf Mineral Content of Wonderful Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) Trees

Promising Impacts of Humic Acid and Some Organic Fertilizers on Yield, Fruit Quality and Leaf Mineral Content of Wonderful Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) Trees

Foliar nutrient applications to 'Wonderful' pomegranate (Punica granatum L.). I. Effects on fruit mineral nutrient concentrations and internal quality

Investigations into putative health benefits of pomegranate fruit have increased interest in its consumption and production but limited evidence exists regarding fruit mineral nutrient concentrations and other internal fruit quality characteristics, especially for Wonderful, an industry standard cultivar, and even less is known about the effects of agricultural practices such as foliar fertilizer applications on these variables. Mature ‘Wonderful’ pomegranate trees were treated during fruit set with zinc sulfate (ZnSO4), magnesium sulfate (MgSO4), potassium nitrate (KNO3), and with deionized water. Mature fruit were analyzed for mineral nutrient concentrations, antioxidant activity (AA), total phenolics (TP), total soluble solids (TSS), and titratable acidity (TA). Fruit mineral nutrient concentrations were characterized. Zinc-treated trees had greater fruit Zn concentrations. No other significant differences in fruit mineral nutrient concentrations were detected. Antioxidant activity ranged from 67.1 to 87.1 percent inhibition of 2,2′-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl with no treatments resulting in AA that was significantly different from the control. Total phenolics ranged from 2091 to 3735 mg·L−1 gallic acid equivalents, with 2% KNO3 resulting in a statistically significant increase in TP at one site. Fruit TSS and TA were not affected significantly by the treatments. The results suggest that foliar ZnSO4, MgSO4, and KNO3 could be used as part of an efficient, sustainable fertilizer program for ‘Wonderful’ pomegranate while maintaining or improving fruit mineral nutrient concentrations, bioactivity, and internal quality.

Cropping system contributes largely to fruit composition and sensory properties of pomegranate (Punica granatum L. var. Gabsi)

The oasis, where pomegranate is grown simultaneously with several crops, is considered as an ecosystem with particular properties. No research has been made to investigate the relationship between pomegranate fruit quality and oasis environment. A comparison between full shade oasis (pomegranate trees were intercropped with date palm trees and other fruit species), partial shade oasis (pomegranate trees grown under date palm trees) and regular orchards with full sun conditions has been investigated in terms of fruit quality. The full shade oasis microclimate was more favourable to obtain pomegranate arils with an attractive red colour and high total anthocyanin content. Pomegranates under these conditions contained total volatile content (79–144μgL−1) which was about 2 times higher than that in full sun exposed fruits (47–64μgL−1). Particularly, hexanal and limonene were the most abundant compounds characterizing the aroma profile of fruits cultivated under full shade oasis, and their arils were the most appreciated in terms of colour, odour and taste by Tunisian consumers. However, fruits from partial shade oasis provided the sweetest juices with high concentrations of glucose (59.8–63.3gL−1) and fructose (108–111gL−1). Titratable acidity and total organic acids content were also higher in fruits grown under Zarat 3 characterized by partial shade conditions. PCA analysis was used to identify which physicochemical and sensory attributes were more closely linked to oasis conditions. Red colour intensity, monoterpenes, hexanal, citric and quinic acids were useful to discriminate full shade oasis. These compounds seem to contribute to the typical organoleptic properties of oasis pomegranate fruits.

A tent, a pigeon house, and a pomegranate tree

An eight-day HCI summer school was run by Kingston University for designing technologies to document intangible culture heritage (ICH) in North-Central Egypt. The school was part of the UK-Egypt institutional link, the Hilali Network, a Newton-Mosharafa project between the City for Scientific Research and Technology Applications (SRTA-City) and Kingston University. The link aimed at advancing HCI education in Egypt by training 18 engineering students from Alexandria University to engage in technology design activities with members from the Bedouin community of Borg El-Arab. The curriculum used interactive material, emphasizing hands-on practice and learning by doing. The Double Diamond design process model was used by the UK. Design Council to structure the school activity. It is a four-stage model, Discover, Define, Develop, and Deliver, with every two phases forming a diamond shape. In the first stage, Discover, the students were encouraged to take a conceptual leap from being the engineering student, who is used to solving well-defined problems, to becoming a design thinker, who is co-responsible with the users for framing the design within the sociocultural challenges. In the second stage, Define, the students were divided into teams. Each team had to define the scope of their projects. In the Develop phase, the students used personas to describe their target users as they defined them in the previous stage. They analyzed the data they gathered from the interviews to find insights and identify opportunity areas, and brainstormed to generate ideas about potential solutions.

Assessment of different irrigation strategies on yield and quality characteristics of drip irrigated pomegranate under mediterranean conditions

This research was carried out to determine the effect of drip irrigation strategies on yield and quality characteristics of pomegranate (Punica granatum L. cv. Hicaznar) trees during the growing seasons between 2013 and 2015 years at Bati Akdeniz Agricultural Research Institute in Antalya, Turkey. The amount of irrigation water applied was based on cumulative Class A pan evaporation (Kcp1 0.50, Kcp2 0.75, Kcp3 1.00 and Kcp4 1.25) measured in two irrigation intervals (D1, 3 days; D2, 6 days). It was determined that irrigation intervals did not affect yield, while irrigation water levels were found to be statistically significant. The average water consumptions determined from a soil water balance were 797 mm for Kcp4, 730 mm for Kcp3, 658 mm for Kcp2, and 591 mm for Kcp1 irrigation level. According to the averaged values of 3 years, annual yield for Kcp4, Kcp3, Kcp2, and Kcp1 irrigation levels were 29.2, 28.9, 23.6, and 18.8 t ha−1, respectively. While the effects of irrigation treatment on fruit weight, total soluble solids, total acidity and pH of juice were not significant, its effect on canopy volume and total trunk cross sectional area were found to be significant. It is concluded that pomegranate trees can be irrigated at 6 days interval using the amount of irrigation equal to 75% of cumulative Class A Pan evaporation to obtain the highest water use efficiency.

Effect of Filter Cake and Some Biocompounds on Growth and Yield of Manfalouty Pomegranate Trees Grown in Sandy Soil

Effect of Filter Cake and Some Biocompounds on Growth and Yield of Manfalouty Pomegranate Trees Grown in Sandy Soil

ОСОБЛИВОСТІ ДАВНЬОГРЕЦЬКИХ ФРАЗЕОЛОГІЗМІВ ІЗ КОМПОНЕНТОМ-ДЕНДРОНІМОМ

The article represents the results of ancient Greek proverbs’ with dendronym component peculiarities research (with tree species name, name of a part or a fruit of a tree and their derivates). On the basis of their linguocultural and semantic analysis the characteristics of their inner form were described. On this ground an assertion was made that dendronym FIG TREE has the greatest potential for proverb forming in ancient Greek language. The existence of different lexemes in ancient Greek language for certain types and parts of this tree designation attests the wide extent of this tree and its parts usage in everyday life of Hellenes. The proverbs containing dendronym OAK are also quite numerous, while dendronyms APPLE TREE, OLIVE TREE, MYRTLE TREE, LAUREL, MULBERRY TREE, PINE TREE, MASTIK TREE, THORN TREE, POMEGRANATE TREE, CORK TREE and PEAR TREE are used much less often. Such quantitative asymmetry is caused by the peculiarities of their everyday usage by Hellenes. The largest group consists of FU, in which the specific name of the tree (and not part of the tree or fruit) is used. The study of inner form of ancient Greek FU with the dendronym component allowed to determine the cognitive mechanisms of the secondary meaning formation. 62 % FU are formed on the basis of metaphorization (on models “specific → abstract”, “plant → human”, “plant → object”, “object → object”). An equally large group consists of proverbs with a dendronym component, based on metaftonimy, a complex cognitive mechanism of metaphor and metonymy combination (the type “metonymy within metaphor” is much more productive than the type “metaphor within metonymy”). The least numerous are FU formed on the basis of metonymy. The analysis of semantics of ancient Greek FU with the dendronym component made it possible to distinguish the following types of FU motivational basis: the physical characteristics of trees, their parts and fruits, associated with the experience of their practical usage; the practice of using trees, their parts and fruits in various rituals and customs; a historical event in which a certain tree or its part was involved; characteristics of tree parts and fruits concerning their consumption as food; the mention of trees in myths and legends.

Effect of growth promoting substances on growth performance of pre-bearing pomegranate trees

Effect of growth promoting substances on growth performance of pre-bearing pomegranate trees

First Report of Coniella granati Fruit Rot and Dieback on Pomegranate in the Western Cape of South Africa

Shoot dieback and necrotic black lesions were observed on pomegranate trees (Punica granatum Linn.) in commercial orchards in South Africa near Ladismith and Malmesbury in 2011. Postharvest fruit rot was identified from an orchard near Malmesbury in 2011. Affected fruit decayed after two months storage (5 – 7 C) and were covered with globose brown pycnidia (mean length x width: 113 x 102 μm; diameter range 72 – 149 μm; 40 spores). Fungal cultures isolated from fruit and shoot symptoms were morphologically identified as Coniella granati Sacc. Petrak and Sydow (synonym Pilidiella granati Saccardo; Alvarez et al., 2016). Hyphae were septate with hyaline, one-celled, ellipsoid to fusiform conidia (10.15 to 14.39 x 2.67 to 4.42; average of 20 spores: 11.35 × 3.28 μm). Sequence data of the translation elongation factor alpha gene (TEF1, MG255164), and internal transcribed spacer region (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2; Genbank Accession No. KU666470, KU666471) confirmed identifications with 99-100% similarity to reference sequ...

Phytochemical Analysis and Evaluation of In Vitro Anti Oxidant Activity of Punica Granatum Leaves

Pomegranate is a large compound of the eastern diets, yet no research has been performed on this product. The pomegranate, Punica granatum belongs to family Lythraceae is an ancient, mystical, unique fruit borne on a small long-living tree cultivated throughout the mediterranean region, as far north as the Himalayas, in Southeast Asia, and in California and Arizona in the United States. Punica granatum is a fruit bearing deciduous herb or small tree growing between 5-8m tall. Punica granatum leaves are used as bitter tonic in fever and used in pneumonia, flu, mouth and lip infections. In recent studies plant has shown anti fungal, immunosuppressant and anti diabetic activity. It is also used in treatment of heart problems, stomach disorders, dental care, cancer, anaemia, osteoarthritis. Punica including Punica protopunica are known to exhibit strong anti oxidant activity. The extraction was subjected to assay by Reducing power, Hydrogen peroxide scavenging assay, DPPH methods for evaluation of anti oxidant activity. Results revealed that the pomegranate can be categorized as a leave with extremely high anti oxidant potential.