Plant growth and yield performance of pomegranate varieties under hot arid eco-system

Abstract

Five pomegranate varieties were evaluated for vegetative growth and yield for five years during 2017-2021 under a hot arid eco-system. No significant difference was observed among varieties with respect to vegetative characters except canopy volume. The maximum canopy volume was observed in cultivar Jalore seedless (1.73 m3) followed by Bhagwa (0.78 m3) and minimum in variety Ganesh (0.40 m3). The physical fruit parameters and yield attributing characters were recorded as superior in Jalore Seedless exhibited maximum fruit weight (189.8 g), fruit volume (127.2 cc), test weight (282.2 g), total aril weight/fruit (123.8 g), number of fruits/plant (66.6) and yield/plant (12.63 kg) followed by Ganesh and minimum was recorded in Phule Arakta with fruit weight (128.2 g), fruit volume (89.2 cc), test weight (174.0 g), number of fruits/plant (46.2) and yield/plant (5.00 kg). Aril weight (0.28 g), aril length and width (9.99 x 7.22 mm) were also observed to be significantly high in Jalore Seedless. A non-significant difference in juice per cent was observed among Mridula, Jalore Seedless and Bhagwa, with a maximum in cultivar Mridula (58), followed by Jalore Seedless and Bhagwa (50.4) and a minimum in Ganesh (37.4). The highest juice TSS was found in Jalore Seedless (17.02 °Brix) followed by Ganesh (16.52 °Brix) and Bhagwa (15.18 °Brix), while it was significantly lower in Mridula (13.26 °Brix). Based on vegetative growth, fruit physical parameters and fruit yield the performance of Jalore Seedless was superior over the other four varieties under a hot arid environment.