B.N. – Punica granatum

Family – Punicaceae

Origin – Iran

Ch. No. – 2n=18 (Basic no. 9 or 8)

Inflorescence – Hypanthodium

Fruit type – Balausta

Edible part – Juicy seed coat

Important Point

• Daru – Wild type
• Maximum area and production Maharashtra (Area 147.91 thousand hectares and production 1789 thousand metric tons).
• Highest productivity – Tamil Nadu.
• According to the NHB database 2018, the area and production of pomegranates are 234 thousand hectares and 2845 thousand metric tonnes respectively.
• It is a non-climacteric fruit tree.
• Protogyny is found in pomegranate flowers.
• Heterostyled (produce pin flower).
• Wind (Anemophilous) Pollinated.
• Mix-bearing habit.
• The problem of cracking of fruits is more during the Mrig Bahar season.
• Mostly Multistem training system is used in India.
• Highly drought tolerant.
• Pomegranate juice is useful for leprosy patients.
• Summer crop is in maximum demand.
• Covering fruits with butter paper bags protects the fruit from damage by Anar butterfly (Virachola Isocrates).
• July – August is the ideal time for planting in tropical regions.
• NRC – Pomegranate – Solapur (MH)

Varieties

• Paper shelled
• Muskati Red
• Spanish Ruby
• Alandi
• Karadi
• Muskat
• Madhugiri
• Bassein Seedless
• Dholka
• Jalore seedless
• Chawla
• Nabha
• Country large red.
• Ganesh (GB1) – Selection from Alandi, popular in MH, Developed by Dr. G.S. Cheema
• G-137, G-107, – Clonal selection from Ganesh.
• P26, P-16, P-13 – Seedling selection from muskat
• Arakta

Hybrid

• Mridula – Ganesh x Gul – e -Shah red
• Jyoti – Bassein seedless x Dholka
• Ruby – Ganesh x Kabul x Yercard
• Amlidana – Ganesh x Nanha, Dwaff, TSS 12.6⁰ Brix (IIHR)

Soft-seeded var. – Jyothi, Ganesh, Bassein seedless, Paper shell.

Hard seeded – Khandhari, Alandi

Climate

• It is a tropical plant and grows up to an altitude of 2000 m.
• A hot and dry climate enhances the quality of fruits.

Soil

• Loamy or alluvial soil is best
• Can also be cultivated in slightly alkaline and lime-rich soil.

Propagation

• Pomegranate is commercially propagated by air layering and hardwood cutting.
• Cutting is prepared in North India in spring and in South India in monsoon.
• Air layering is done during the rainy season.

Planting

• Before the onset of monsoon, pits of 60 to 75 cm are dug at a distance of 4X4m, 3X2.5, or 4X2m.
• The best time for sowing pomegranates is the monsoon season

Manure and fertilizers

• FYM – 20 kg/plant
• 240:160:60 grams/plant N:P: K
• Use fertilizers for
  • Ambe Bahar – December-January
  • Mrig Bahar – May-June
  • Hastha Bahar – October-November.

Irrigation

• Give light and regular irrigation during fruiting time.
• Irrigation is required at an interval of 10-12 days till the onset of monsoon.
• Pomegranate can tolerate salt water (500-1000 ppm).

Interculture and Intercropping

• Shallow cultivation should be done to reduce weeds.
• During the first 4 to 5 years, do intercropping with vegetables like cabbage, cauliflower, tomato, peas, beans, etc.

Pruning and Pruning

1. Multi-stem system

In this case, 3-4 stems are left on each plant and the remaining branches are removed, resulting in the growth of the plant in a bushy form.

2. Single-stem system

• All lateral shoots are removed and only one stem is left. The main stem is pinched above a height of about one meter resulting in branching. Only 4-5 branches well distributed on all sides are allowed to grow at a distance of about 60-70 cm from the ground level.
• Water sprouts, weak crotch, dead twigs, and old spurs are pruned.

Flowering and fruiting

A mature pomegranate plant has a tendency to flower and bear fruit throughout the year.

Bahar regulation/treatment – ​​This is done by withholding water supply 60 days before normal flowering, exposure of the root, and also using chemicals.

• Mrig Bahar – June-July (flowers)
• Ambe Bahar – February – March (flowers)
• Hasta Bahar – September – October (flowers)

Harvesting

• Fruits are ready for harvesting 5 to 7 months after flowering.
• When ripe fruits turn slightly yellow and then pink to red.
• A metallic sound is produced when the fruit is tapped and a ‘crunch’ sound is heard when pressed.

Yield

• 80-120 fruit/plant or 16-20 kg/plant

Insect-pests

1. Pomegranate butterfly or Anar fruit fly (Virachola isocrates)

• The female lays eggs on a cluster of flowers and small fruits. Hatching caterpillars bore inside the developing fruit and are eaten from the inside. Affected fruits fall down.

Control

• Collect and destroy all affected fruits.
• Spray Metacid or Carbaryl 0.2% or Phosphomidon 0.03%

2. Bark Eating caterpillar (Inderbela tetraonis)

• The pest bore into the bark of the pomegranate tree and fed inside.

Control

• Avoid overcrowding of trees by removing unwanted twigs.
• Inject kerosene oil or petrol and plug the hole with cotton wool.

Diseases

1. Fruit rot (Phomopsis sp.)

• Flowers in affected plants do not bear fruit and young fruits may drop. Symptoms appear with yellow or black spots all over the fruit.

Control

• Remove and burn all affected twigs, fruits.
• Spray with Dithane Z-78 0.2%

2. Leaf spot (Xanthomonas punicae, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides)

• Xanthomonas punica causes irregular water-soaked spots on leaves. They are light brown to dark brown in appearance, with no spots on twigs, branches, or fruits.

Control

• Collect and destroy fallen leaves and fruits.
• Spraying of 0.2% Dithane M-45 or Captan at 15 days intervals.

Physiological Disorder

Fruit Cracking

The cracked fruits are also liable to be invaded by certain fungi and bacteria.

Causes

• Boron deficiency in young plants
• Moisture stress conditions created due to irregular irrigation or irregular rains
• Sudden fluctuations in day and night temperatures.

Control

• Spray 0.1% Borax
• The regular supply of soil moisture through light irrigation.
• Plant windbreak around the pomegranate orchard.
• Use resistant varieties.