Several studies have consistently underscored the crucial role of environmental conditions and cultivar type as the foremost factors impacting pomegranate adaptation. In this research, the productive potential, fruit biochemical traits, vegetative growth and physiological characteristics of eleven pomegranate genotypes were evaluated under Moroccan conditions. T he results showed a highly significant variance among these cultivars across all assessed traits except the stomatal area. Fruit yield, fruit weight and juice content exhibited a wide spectrum, ranging from 21.88 - 79.03 kg tree-1, 429.2 - 288.88 g and 34.06 - 47.27% respectively. However, the chemical composition of the juice revealed considerable fluctuations, with total soluble solids ranging between 13.28 and 17.11 ºBrix, titratable acidity varied between 0.24 and 2.25% of citric acid. Biochemically, a discernible dissimilarity manifested among the assayed pomegranate cultivars; with a total sugar content varied between 74.14 and 147.56 g GE L-1 and a total phenol content of 0.69 - 3.21 g GAE L-1 and antioxidant activity of 27.61 - 67.49% respectively. In addition, the data analysis ‘Mollar Osin Hueso’ and ‘Zheri Precoce’ exhibited the highest annual shoot growth and leaf area, respectively, while ‘Ounk Hmam’ showcased the highest stomatal conductance, in stark contrast to the ‘Bzou’ cultivar, which registered the lowest value. These findings suggest that the cultivar type was the main factor influencing the fruit yield, the fruit physic-biochemical properties, vegetative and physiological traits in pomegranate trees.

cultivar, vegetative growth, physiological traits, productive potential, Punica granatum L.

Published by University of Zagreb, Faculty of Agriculture, Zagreb, CROATIA
Sponsored by Ministry Science and Education of the Republic of Croatia