Pomegranate biodiversity

Diversity of Pomegranate varieties and species found across the country

1. Biodiversity of Pomegranate

2. Botanical name:  Punica granatum             Family : Punicaceae  2n  = 18 INTRODUCTION The pomegranate ( Punica granatum   L., Punicaceae ) is capable of growing in a variety of climate ranging from tropical to temperate and as a result, a large number of diverse forms have been evolved over the years in nature .

3. The fruit was very popular in Iraq. In ancient Egypt, the pomegranate received the name " Arhumani ". The old Semitic denomination was " Rimmon " from which derived the Hebrew " Ramon" and the Arabic " Rumman " names   Punica granatum . It is native to Iran (Persia) ORIGIN AND DISTRIBUTION The pomegranate is one of the oldest known edible fruits. The species mentioned in the Bible and the Kuran and is often associated to fertility.

4. The Romans first called this species " Malum punicum " (Punic apple or apple of Carthage) that evolved to" Punicum granatum " and C. Von Linne , finally, give the name as  Punica granatum . In the Near East (Persia, Turkey, etc.), Central Asia (Afghanistan, etc.) and India, the fruit is commonly named as " Anar " Pomegranate is considered as an excellent tree for growing in arid zones for its resistance to drought conditions.

5. It is cultivated in Central Asia and to some extent in the USA (California), Russia, China and Japan for fruit production and is also developed as an ornamental tree in East Asia .   E x situ and in situ  collections are already established in different countries.

6. DISTRIBUTION IN INDIA   The major pomegranate producing belts are as follows: Maharashtra ( Solapur , Sangli , Nashik , Ahmedanagar , Pune , Dhule , Aurangabad, Satara , Osmanabad and Latur districts). Karnataka ( Bijapur and Bagalkot ) Gujarat Rajasthan Uttar Pradesh Andhra Pradesh Tamil Nadu Punjab & Haryana.

7. SPECIES DIVERSITY The genus Punica has two species,  Punica granatum  and  Punica protopunica  and the latter is wild type and found wild in the Socotra Island Chlorocarpa   and  Porphyrocarpa  are the two sub species of species granatum , the former is indigenous to Trans-Caucasus region and the later species is native to Central Asia

8. GENETIC RESOURCES Some parts of the Mediterranean area are considered as native lands of pomegranate .. The grown local material may be   considered as the pomegranate primary gene pool.  Punica granatum   grows wild in the near east,   Transcaucasia, Dagestan and also in Asia minor. In these regions, hybridization between cultivated   and wild forms is, probably, still taking place. Wild forms (populations) would be the   secondary gene pool. The tertiary pomegranate gene pool would consist of forms of the pomegranate wild relative ( Punica   protopunica ).

9. It was presumed that  P.protopunica  played a part in the origin of the cultivated pomegranate .   ORNAMENTAL NON FRUITING TYPES P. granatum  double red :  The calyx tube is much larger than the other forms A large number of bright scarlet petals is present. It gives profuse flowering during summer.

10. P. granatum  double white :  produces white coloured flowers P. granatum  double yellow : with brilliant yellow coloured flowers P.granatum  double dwarf : It is also called as  P.granatum   nana racemosa . It is a dwarf plant with cluster flowering nature. Scarlet flowers are produced in long stalks.

11. P.granatum  variegated :  it is a mutant of dwarf red. Large and handsome flowers with red and yellow stripes are present. Pentaploidy : In pomegranate, the double flowers are formed due to this phenomenon in which the stamens are converted to petals. Thus the flower fails to set fruits.

12. Khandhar i : Fruits are large, rind is deep red. The aril is deep blood red or deep pink with sweet slightly acidic juice seeds are very hard Commercial variety of H.P.

13. Muskat Red: Produce small to medium size fruits with thick red rind. Aril is fleshy with moderately sweet juice, seeds are medium hard. Commercially grown is kolhar , Rahuri regions of Maharashtra. High yielding & better quality strains have been selected from the cultivar Muscat viz., P-13, P-16, P-23, ASK-3

14. Alandi & Vadki : Fruits are medium sized, red in colour aril fleshy, blood red or deep pink with sweet acidic juice. seeds are very hard grown in Maharashtra ( Pune ) & in Gujarat.

15. Kabul : Produces large fruits, dark red with yellow patches. aril dark red fleshy hard with slightly bitter juice. Jodhpur red/ local : Fruits medium to large, hard rind, fleshy aril light pink sweet juicy, seeds moderately hard .

16. VARIETAL WEALTH GANESH  This variety is developed by selection method. It is a prolific bearer, fruit very large, rind yellowish red, pinkish aril with soft seeds. It is the commercial cultivar of Maharashtra. The average yield ranges from 8-10 kg per tree.

17. ARAKTA The fruits are smaller than Ganesh , variety having dark red coloured arils with soft seeds. The variety is commercially is grown in Maharastra . heavy yielder and possesses desirable fruit characters. It also possess glossy, attractive, dark red skin. It is less susceptible to fruit spots and thrips .

18. BHAGAWA / KESAR: It is a selection from Phule Aarakta . Bigger fruit size, sweet, bold and attractive arils, glossy, very attractive saffron coloured thick skin makes it suitable for distant markets. It is more resistant to fruit cracking & fruit drop.

19. MUSKAT  The fruits of this variety have red rind with pink coloured arils. The fruits are with average weight of 300-350 grams. DHOLKA  This cultivar has large fruits with greenish white rind with whitish to pinkish white thick soft aril. Seeds are very soft & juice is very sweet. Commercial cultivar of Gujarat (around Ahmedabad )

20. JYOTI  As a result of evaluation of a large number of seedling populations of Bassein Seedless and Dholka , a highly promising type GKVK-1 was selected and released under the name ' Jyothi '. The fruits are large with attractive colour having dark red arils . The seeds are very soft with high pulp and juice contents. Fruits are borne on the inner side of the canopy and thus do not get damaged due to sun scorching.   

21. RUBY This variety is developed at IIHR, Bangalore. The mature fruits resemble cultivar ' Ganesh ' with respect to shape and size. However, the rind of this variety is reddish brown with green streaks containing red bold arils. The fruit weighs 270 g with an average yield of 16-18 tonnes /ha.

22.   G137:  Clonal selection from Ganesh with better fruit qualities.  YERCAUD 1:   Developed at Horticultural Research Station, TNAU, Yercaud .   It has easily    peelable rind with attractive purple arils .   SPANISH RUBY Fruit small to medium in size, rind thin, fleshy testa , rose coloured , seeds are soft.

23. Jalore seedless : Soft seeded variety and recommended by Central Arid zone research Institute, Jodhpur for arid zones as the fruit maturity is early and maximum fruit production is coincided with available soil moisture. Fruits are large in size weighing 200 g and fruits are attractive in appearance. Skin colour is pink to deep red. The arils are pink to red having soft seeds .

24. Varieties State Alandi and Muskat Maharashtra Madhugiri and Bassein seedless Karnataka Dholka Gujarat Jodhpuri Red, Jodhapuri White and  Jalore seedless Rajasthan Chawla , Nabha ,  and Country Large Red Haryana Velludu , CO1, YCD 1 Tamil Nadu

25. GERMPLASM COLLECTION Eight countries of the former USSR have collections of pomegranate germplasm. Azerbaijan, The Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan have relatively large collections of 200-300 accessions . The collection of the Turkmenistan Experimental Station of Plant Genetic Resources was established in 1934 and is the largest in the world containing 1117 accessions.

26. A core collection was also established and is 10% of the size of the main collection. For the unique wild relative of the pomegranate ( Punica protopunica ), an expedition was made and located the species at 5 sites in the Socotra island (Yemen) and seeds were collected and successfully germinated. Experiments have shown that the cryopreservation is suitable for storage of seed and pollen of pomegranate cultivars.

27. HIMALAYAS The genus  Punica  ( Punicaceae ) is distributed in Iran, Afghanistan, India and Mediterranean countries. Iran is considered to be its primary center of origin. In India  Punica granatum  is found in wild only in Western Himalayan regions comprising, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand states. Dehradun , Pithoragarh , Nainital , Almora , Tehri , Kangra , Mandi and Kullu  wild pomegranates were found to occur

28. Sl.No Centres Number of collections 1. PAU, Abohar, Punjab 19 2. ANGRAU, Anantpur, Andhra Pradesh 29 3. TNAU, Arupukottai, Tamil Nadu 24 4. CCSHAU, Bawal, Haryana 09 5. CIAH, Bikaner, Rajasthan 152 6. IIHR, Bangalore, Karnataka 64 7. RAU, Jobner , Rajasthan 09 8. CAZRI, Jodhpur, Rajasthan 34 9. MPKV, Rahuri, Maharashtra 52 10. S.K. Nagar, Gujarat 52 11. NRCP, Solapur, Maharashtra 187

29. WORLDWIDE GERMPLASM COLLECTIONS CHINA : The chinese cultivars are spur type. Mostly white flowered, large fruits with sweet taste. They are early bearing evergreen cultivars. IRAN : It possesses more than 700 accessions. ISRAEL : The Israeli varieties have more anti-oxidant properties. The amount of Punicalin , Punicalagin , Gallagic acid, Ellagic acid etc are more in these varieties. TUNISIA : it is considered as the secondary centre of origin and diversification. 60 accessions are protected here. .

30. FUTURE PROSPECTS Since the  exsitu collection  cannot exceed a limited number of accessions, it is difficult to preserve the evolutionary potential of the species. Thus,  in situ conservation of genetic resources must be considered. The role of traditional local growers in the preservation of this primary gene pool is valuable. New methods (biochemical and molecular techniques, etc.) have to be developed for cultivar identification and genetic studies. Particular guidelines for the safe movement of pomegranate genetic resources have to be elaborated.Adaptation and screening trials should be established with particular emphasis on fruit quality and physiological disorders and pest resistance

31. REFERENCES Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution (2005) 52: 959–966. Girish Sharma, O.C. Sharma and B.S.Thakur.2009. Systematics of Fruit Crops. New India Publishing Agency,  Pitam Pura , New Delhi,  pp. 257-262 Peter, K.V. 2011. Biodiversity in Horticultural Crops, Daya Publishing House, New Delhi. Vol.3: 229-250