Articles
Genetic and qualitative variation in a collection of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) genotypes collected from Puglia region, southeastern Italy
Article number
1466_70
Pages
581 – 588
Language
English
Abstract
The growing popularity of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is mainly due to its outstanding nutritional value and antioxidant properties, as well as its adaptability to diverse soils and climates.
This species exhibits substantial variability in fruit morphology and chemical composition, including differences in seed hardness, juiciness, rind and aril colour, sugar/acid ratio, antioxidant activity, and phenolic content.
A collection of sweet and sour pomegranate genotypes of different origins, along with a set of 20 breeding lines, was evaluated to either characterize morphological and biochemical traits or assess genetic diversity using 50 SSR (simple sequence repeat) microsatellite markers on a total of 65 genotypes from Italy, Israel, and California.
A total of 80 alleles were produced, with 67% of markers showing a polymorphic amplification pattern and 47 fragments capable of distinguishing different ecotypes.
Genotypes were grouped according to geographical origin, domestication status, and morpho-chemical traits such as juice sweetness and total polyphenol content.
In addition, as part of this research program, controlled crosses between local Puglia ecotypes and varieties of American, Japanese, and Central Asian origin were performed, and seeds from 13 breeding lines were sown to evaluate germination rate and early seedling development.
A total of 1,679 seeds were sown across the 13 breeding lines, yielding 337 germinated seeds, with a mean germinability of 19.3% and a range from 0.0 to 35.9%. These results provide a comprehensive assessment of pomegranate germplasm supporting conservation and sustainable exploitation of this fruit species.
This species exhibits substantial variability in fruit morphology and chemical composition, including differences in seed hardness, juiciness, rind and aril colour, sugar/acid ratio, antioxidant activity, and phenolic content.
A collection of sweet and sour pomegranate genotypes of different origins, along with a set of 20 breeding lines, was evaluated to either characterize morphological and biochemical traits or assess genetic diversity using 50 SSR (simple sequence repeat) microsatellite markers on a total of 65 genotypes from Italy, Israel, and California.
A total of 80 alleles were produced, with 67% of markers showing a polymorphic amplification pattern and 47 fragments capable of distinguishing different ecotypes.
Genotypes were grouped according to geographical origin, domestication status, and morpho-chemical traits such as juice sweetness and total polyphenol content.
In addition, as part of this research program, controlled crosses between local Puglia ecotypes and varieties of American, Japanese, and Central Asian origin were performed, and seeds from 13 breeding lines were sown to evaluate germination rate and early seedling development.
A total of 1,679 seeds were sown across the 13 breeding lines, yielding 337 germinated seeds, with a mean germinability of 19.3% and a range from 0.0 to 35.9%. These results provide a comprehensive assessment of pomegranate germplasm supporting conservation and sustainable exploitation of this fruit species.
Publication
Authors
P. Colasuonno, A. Gadaleta, S.L. Giove, A. Mazzeo, I. Marcotuli, G. Ferrara
Keywords
breeding lines, controlled crosses, germination rate, seedling development, genetic improvement, Punica granatum
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