Articles
Determination of suitability of several pomegranate cultivars for different horticultural regions in Australia
Article number
1254_10
Pages
63 – 72
Language
English
Abstract
This investigation was carried out in order to identify suitable pomegranate cultivars for cultivation throughout Australia.
Within an area exceeding one million square kilometres, several trial sites were identified for this study over time.
Multiple accessions of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) were planted in Northern Territory (one trial site), New South Wales (four trial sites), South Australia (four trial sites), and Queensland (one trial site) with a randomized complete block design compound site analysis was undertaken.
The trial sites were populated with plants of similar age and size for further evaluation.
All plants were produced via cuttings obtained from a single parent plant of each cultivar.
The same planting medium and controlled propagation conditions were maintained.
Cutting rooting rate, rate and volume of vegetative growth, timing of leaf and flower formation, and regional and climatic characteristics were observed for comparison of plant behavior from one region to another.
It was apparent that cultivars planted in latitudes below 20°S exhibited deciduous properties whereas all cultivars planted above the twentieth parallel south became evergreen from the first year of planting.
Relative humidity, annual rainfall, weather patterns, site altitude, and soil composition were found to exhibit direct correlation with variations in outcomes observed between trial sites.
Within an area exceeding one million square kilometres, several trial sites were identified for this study over time.
Multiple accessions of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) were planted in Northern Territory (one trial site), New South Wales (four trial sites), South Australia (four trial sites), and Queensland (one trial site) with a randomized complete block design compound site analysis was undertaken.
The trial sites were populated with plants of similar age and size for further evaluation.
All plants were produced via cuttings obtained from a single parent plant of each cultivar.
The same planting medium and controlled propagation conditions were maintained.
Cutting rooting rate, rate and volume of vegetative growth, timing of leaf and flower formation, and regional and climatic characteristics were observed for comparison of plant behavior from one region to another.
It was apparent that cultivars planted in latitudes below 20°S exhibited deciduous properties whereas all cultivars planted above the twentieth parallel south became evergreen from the first year of planting.
Relative humidity, annual rainfall, weather patterns, site altitude, and soil composition were found to exhibit direct correlation with variations in outcomes observed between trial sites.
Authors
O. Rad, M.R. Vazifeshenas
Keywords
environment differences, trials, plant growth behavior, fruit characteristics
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