Articles
POMEGRANATE: A GROWING ALTERNATIVE FOR FRUIT PRODUCTION IN URUGUAY
Article number
1089_46
Pages
351 – 355
Language
English
Abstract
The pomegranate (Punica granatum) was presumably introduced in Uruguay by Spanish immigrants during the XVIII century.
The type of pomegranate introduced was Mollar, with yellow rind, pink and sweet arils with medium hard seeds being used mainly for self-consumption.
The need of new alternatives in fruit growing has promoted new developments with this crop.
Since 2008 in a joint project between the private sector and the National Agricultural Research Institute (INIA), with the support of the National Agency for Research and Innovation (ANII), more than 50 cultivars of diverse origins were introduced and the first commercial plantations were implanted with Wonderful plants.
Most of the varietal introduction was made from the USDA National Clonal Germplasm Repository, Wolfskill, USA, of selected cultivars by Dr.
Gregory Levin.
These cultivars were introduced in the form of cuttings and multiplied in vitro after adjustment of protocols.
With these plants, assessment blocks were installed and some of the cultivars were selected for commercial plantations.
The results of in vitro multiplication were not equal for all cultivars, having some that were easily propagated while others had fairly low propagation rates.
The first commercial plantations of Wonderful were introduced in the spring of 2009 and planted in a tree spacing of 4 by 2 m (1250 plants/ha); harvesting of the first fruit took place in the fall of 2011.
The type of pomegranate introduced was Mollar, with yellow rind, pink and sweet arils with medium hard seeds being used mainly for self-consumption.
The need of new alternatives in fruit growing has promoted new developments with this crop.
Since 2008 in a joint project between the private sector and the National Agricultural Research Institute (INIA), with the support of the National Agency for Research and Innovation (ANII), more than 50 cultivars of diverse origins were introduced and the first commercial plantations were implanted with Wonderful plants.
Most of the varietal introduction was made from the USDA National Clonal Germplasm Repository, Wolfskill, USA, of selected cultivars by Dr.
Gregory Levin.
These cultivars were introduced in the form of cuttings and multiplied in vitro after adjustment of protocols.
With these plants, assessment blocks were installed and some of the cultivars were selected for commercial plantations.
The results of in vitro multiplication were not equal for all cultivars, having some that were easily propagated while others had fairly low propagation rates.
The first commercial plantations of Wonderful were introduced in the spring of 2009 and planted in a tree spacing of 4 by 2 m (1250 plants/ha); harvesting of the first fruit took place in the fall of 2011.
Authors
A. Paz Marty, A. Castillo, R. Zoppolo
Keywords
Punica granatum, in vitro propagation, USDA National Clonal Germplasm Repository
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