Basic Production Technology Of Pomegranate

Pomegranate Mudusser Hussain Syed Ali Raza Haibatullah Asad Abbas Raza Ahmed Shire Ali Rehmatullah Imdad-ul-Haq Uzair Malik

2005-ag-1888 2005-ag-1423 2005-ag-1475 2005-ag-1899 2005-ag-1908 2005-ag-1780 2005-ag-1782 2005-ag-1854

Introduction • Total Production • Total Area

50,109 Hectares (2005-06) 13,283 Tones

• Bestowed on Bani-Israel • All parts of the tree are source of tannin for curing leather • Yields citric acid and sodium citrate for pharmaceutical purposes • Bark of the stem and root contains several alkaloids including isopelletierine which is active against tapeworms. • Considered beneficial in Leprosy

Origin and Distribution: • Originated in W. Asia, probably in the vicinity of Iran • Subsequently been distributed west to the Mediterranean and east to Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India • In Pakistan, it is wild in Baluchistan, the Salt Range, Waziristan, Kurram, Chitral, Dir, Hazara and Azad Kashmir • Found abundantly in the Kagan valley.

Botanical Description • Botanical Name Punica granatum L. • Family Punicaceae • Plants are small trees or large shrubs, with lenceolate leaves 2-6cm long • Tree shape depends on lay-out system • Trained as open vase shape for better light penetration • Flowers scarlet red or white, 5 succulent, triangular sepals, • 5 petals alternate to sepal nodes • Pistil polycarpellary syncarpous. • Fruit is berry • Seed is pink-red, fleshy testa

Soil & Climate • Thrives on calcareous, alkaline soil and on deep, acidic loam • Grows on wide range of soils in between extremes • The species is primarily mild-temperate to subtropical • Adapted to regions with cool winters and hot summers • It can be severely injured by temperatures below 12º F • Plant favors a semi-arid climate and is extremely drought -tolerant.

Varieties • • • • • • • •

Ahmar Aswad Halwa Qandhari Bedana Dholka Muskat-Red Wonderful

• Spanish Ruby

Propagation • Sexually by Seeds – Seeds germinate easily without going through a rest period – Trees are not true to variety grown from seed.

• Asexually by means of hardwood or softwood cuttings or air-layering. – Trees, grown from softwood cuttings make late in the growing season – Hardwood cuttings are the easiest and most satisfactory method of growing pomegranates – Suckers from a parent plant can be taken up and transplanted. – Grafting has never been successful, so no special rootstalk

Cultural Practices • Planting Distance – Pomegranate trees do not come into good commercial production for 5 or 6 years. – Close plantation may increase early production. – The standard planting distance is 20 x 20 feet

• Irrigation – Survives log periods of drought, with poor fruit setting – If properly irrigated grows vigorously – Restricted irrigation in winter and regular in summer – After blooming and fruit set, regular irrigation is required

• Irrigation – If irrigation is not provided fortnightly in AprilJuly, causes poor fruit production – During winter, monthly irrigation is enough

• Fertilization – Mature Tree requires 500 N/year, in Splits – Excessive or late application may delay fruit maturity – Zinc deficiency is cured by foliar zinc sprays in dormant season – Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K) application haven't proved to improve the growth yet

Insects • Pomegranate butterfly (Virachola isocrates) – Lays eggs on flower-buds and the calyx of developing fruits – In a few days the caterpillars enter the fruit by way of the calyx – These fruit borers may cause loss of an entire crop unless the flowers are sprayed 2 times 30 days apart.

• Stem Borer (Pleuroplaconema) – Causes Twig die-back and malformation of fruit

• Leaf-roller (Platynola stultana) – Larvae cause channels to appear in the rind where they feed under leaves – The fruit usually rots just inside the entry location

• Cure – Proper insecticide must be sprayed before the appearance of symptoms – Healthy and proper sanitary conditions must be maintained

Disease • Head Rot – fruit Damage, caused by Alternaria Fungus – Infection takes place in the bloom and progresses to the interior of the fruit – Usually due to rains during blooming – Central cavity is destroyed but rind remains healthy

• Dry Rot – Caused due to Phomopsis sp. or Zythia versoniana may destroy as much as 80% of the crop – Excessive rain during the ripening season may induce soft rot. – A post-harvest rot can be caused by Alternaria solani – Particularly in cracked fruits

• Corrective Measures – Proper Cu-Based Fungicide Spray

Training • Trained to a bush, single- or multipletrunked tree • Multi-trunk system is preferred • Pruning and tying with ropes for support may be needed for the first 3 or 4 years or until trunks are large and rigid enough to support the developing top.

Pruning • Light thinning out is practiced and no heading back is done • In winter to maintain shape and good bearing surface • short spurs on 2- or 3-year-old wood growing mostly on the outer edge of the tree produce flowers. • Remove weak or dead limbs during the next growing season • Basal suckers should be removed periodically to promote growth form the main trunk of the newly planted tree

Harvesting • Picking begins in August before fruit is fully mature • Average production is 5 to 6 tons per acre • Fruit may split on reaching maturity on tree due to rain • Harvest fruit with clippers and bags

The Fruit

The Fruit With Seeds

The Tree

The Flower