Pomegranate cultivation
The pomegranate or Punica granatum is cultivated above all for its edible fruits, but also for ornamental purposes in parks and gardens; regarding the latter, we recall that older specimens can develop a spiral-shaped trunk with an intricate and twisted bark, which makes them particularly interesting.
Pomegranates are resistant to drought and grow quietly in arid areas or with a typically Mediterranean climate; on the contrary, in humid areas, pomegranates can be subject to root rot and fungal diseases. They tolerate frost in moderation, up to about -12 ° C.
The pomegranate parasites are: the pomegranate butterfly Isocrate Virachola and the leaf-legged beetle Leptoglossus zonatus .
The pomegranate grows easily from the seed, but is commonly propagated by woody cuttings (25-50cm long) in order to avoid the genetic diversification of the seedlings.
Variety of Pomegranate
That dwarf of the pomegranate is a variety of P. granatum cultivated for ornamental purposes, both in gardens and in pots; the dwarf pomegranate is also frequently used as a bonsai tree.
In reality, it is not clear whether it is a variety or a wild form with different origins. Also for this reason, the dwarf pomegranate has received the attention of the "Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit".
Pomegranate species
The other known species belonging to the genus Punica is the "Melograno Socotra" ( P. protopunica ), which is precisely endemic to the island of Socotra. It differs from P. granatum in that it produces pink flowers (not red) and smaller fruits as well as less sweet ones.
Pomegranate cultivar
More than 500 pomegranate cultivars are known, but it is probable that there are several synonyms indicating the same types of plants, since from the genetic analysis substantial differences do not always appear.
It is also true that the phenotypic characteristics responsible for the diversification of the various types of pomegranate are far from dubious existence; these, probably established by a slightly different genetic mapping, regulate: the size of the fruits, the color of the peel (exocarp, from yellow, violet, pink and red), the color of the seeds (from white to red), the hardness of the same, the maturation, the edible portion, the acidity, the sweetness and the astringency of the juices obtained from it. Obviously, all this affects the destination of the fruit, the preference of consumers and therefore the entire marketing of the pomegranate.
Scientists at the "Indian Institute of Horticulture Research" are developing pomegranate varieties resistant to the "Bacterial Rust" disease by using the cross with sub-Himalayan plants.
