Pomegranate Cultivation in Mediterranean Climate: Plant Adaptation and Fruit Quality of ‘Mollar de Elche’ and ‘Wonderful’ Cultivars

Two pomegranate cultivars, Mollar de Elche, native to Spain, and Wonderful, the most widely cultivated variety in world, were studied a commercial orchard Sicily, their phenological behavior was compared. During development of fruit, dimensional growth monitored, after harvest, physicochemical sensory analyses carried out highlight differences between fruit two cultivars. Results showed that Elche require less time from flowering maturity, resulting an earlier which due also higher relative rate fruit’s diameters. On other hand, confirmed Wonderful is appealing for fresh produce consumers its intense coloring. However, economically desirable characteristics such as good softness seed. Moreover, analysis cv. found have sweeter taste both arils juice.