PomegranatePomegranate

Mudusser Hussain 2005-ag-1888

Syed Ali Raza 2005-ag-1423

Haibatullah Asad 2005-ag-1475

Abbas Raza 2005-ag-1899

Ahmed Shire Ali 2005-ag-1908

Rehmatullah 2005-ag-1780

Imdad-ul-Haq 2005-ag-1782

Uzair Malik 2005-ag-1854

Mudusser Hussain 2005-ag-1888

Syed Ali Raza 2005-ag-1423

Haibatullah Asad 2005-ag-1475

Abbas Raza 2005-ag-1899

Ahmed Shire Ali 2005-ag-1908

Rehmatullah 2005-ag-1780

Imdad-ul-Haq 2005-ag-1782

Uzair Malik 2005-ag-1854

Introduction

• Total Production 50,109 Hectares (2005-06)• Total Area 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

• 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

Propagation

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 April-

July, 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 multiple-

trunked 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