Determination of maturity indices for harvesting of pomegranate (Punica granatum)

Abstract

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is an important fruit crop of arid and semiarid regions of the world with immense medicinal and nutritional value. Bhagwa, Ruby, Ganesh, G-137, Jalore Seedless, Arakta and Mridula are some of the popular cultivars of pomegranate which are commercially cultivated in different parts of India. These varieties differ in their maturity period (time taken from full bloom to harvest). Harvesting the fruits of pomegranate too early does not allow fruits to ripen properly while late harvesting limits the market life of fruits.Hence, an experiment was conducted to determine the appropriate maturity indices for harvesting pomegranate during 2011-12 and 2012-2013. Days after full bloom (DAFB), fruit weight, fruit length, fruit diameter, 100 arils weight, TSS, titrable acidity and brix-acid ratio (BAR) were recorded at 15 days interval after fruitset. The maturity indices, viz. total soluble solids (TSS) and brix-acid ratio determined for harvesting the fruits of pomegranate with better edible quality is as follows. ie. 15.95°B TSS and 31.90 BAR at 180 DAFB for Bhagwa, 15.80°B TSS and 32.91 BAR at 175 DAFB for Ruby, 16.10°B TSS, 37.44 BAR at 150 DAFB for Ganesh, 16.20°B TSS, 36.00 BAR at 145 DAFB for Jalore Seedless, 15.40°B TSS, 34.22 BAR at 140 DAFB for Arakta and 15.50°B TSS, 33.69 BAR at 140 DAFB for Mridula.