Pomegranate Variety Trial in Arizona

Pomegranate fruit have become popular in recent years for culinary use and for their potential health benefits. Thirty-two cultivars of pomegranates (Punica granatum) were planted in three locations in 2012 in southern Arizona to determine their growth performance and potential as fruit crop when grown at different elevations and climatic conditions. Field sites were established in Yuma, Tucson, and Bowie at elevations of 50 m, 700 m and 1124 m, respectively. Twenty-seven cultivars are grown for their fruit and five cultivars for their ornamental value.  In Bowie, plants were smaller than at the other two sites.  Harvest was on October 9, 2014 and yields were up to 4000 g per plant.  ‘Azadi’, ‘Sosa Carrillo’ and ‘Palermo’ had the greatest yields.  Brix:acid ratios for the Bowie site fruit ranged from 3 to 16, and fruit interior and exterior color had the darkest red color of the three sites.  In Tucson, plants were the largest of the three sites.  Harvest was on October 23, 2014 and yields were up to 14,000 g per plant.  ‘Purple Heart’, ‘Wonderful’ and ‘Josefina’ had the greatest yields.  Brix:acid ratios for the Tucson site fruit ranged from 3 to 14, and fruit interior and exterior color was not as dark red as in Bowie.  In Yuma, plants were larger than those in Bowie, but smaller than those in Tucson.  Harvest was on November 6, 2014 and yields were up to 5000 g per plant.  ‘Purple Heart’, ‘Sosa Carrillo’ and ‘Cranberry’ had the greatest yields.  Brix:acid ratios for the Yuma site fruit ranged from 3 to 16 and fruit interior and exterior color was the least red of the three sites.