Performance and Phytochemical Content of 22 Pomegranate (Punica granatum) Varieties

Pomegranate is a drought-tolerant and salt-tolerant crop. Its fruits contain high levels of phytochemicals that have many health benefits. has the potential to be an alternative crop in areas where water availability limited, such as west Texas. However, more than 500 pomegranate varieties are estimated exist worldwide, little known about which suitable for growing Texas region. Therefore, objective this study was evaluate field performance 22 varieties, specifically based on phenology, resistance sunburn, fruit split, rot (resistance calculated by subtracting percent incidence 100), yield, phytochemicals, Brix over course 3 years from 2016 2018. Cold damage, caused below-freezing temperatures encountered Nov. 2018 Feb. 2019, also evaluated Apr. 2019. Our results showed significant varietal differences nearly all response variables measured, indicating selection important production specific regions, Leaf budding ranged 47 62 days 2016, 41 54 2017, 49 60 Anthesis 87 119 80 94 92 114 Fruit split broad 7.3% 79.1% 2017 14.2% 99.7% sunburn 14.0% 64.6% 28.3% 90.0% heart nominal varieties. Total phenolic compound contents juice 0.81 1.52 mg GAE/mL, total antioxidant capacity 3.44 6.81 TE/mL. The yield per tree 1.00 7.96 kg 10.26 12.5% 17.4% 13.9% 18.4% Early winter different degrees cold damage; however, 5 originated Russia did not show any damage. Results hierarchical cluster analysis means key indicated four (Al-Sirin-Nar, Russian 8, Ben Ivey, Salavatski) were notable having both Brix.