Breeding Activities on Pomegranate at the CREA-Fruit Tree Research Center, Rome, Italy

Pomegranate cultivation has considerably increased worldwide during recent years, mainly in reaction to the rising consumers’ awareness on the numerous nutraceutical benefits of this fruit. To satisfy also future demands, research will be even more necessary, both concerning modernization of cultivation systems and the set of available varieties. The management of vegetative and productive behaviour of this species is not easy, especially because of its intensive suckering tendency and shrubby growth habit; therefore, in 2002, the CREA-FRU has initiated a breeding programme based on crosses and selections, targeted at the individuation of non-suckering rootstocks and selections presenting a growth habit which is more suitable for modern orchard management.In 2012,  we selected the first non-suckering Punica granatum rootstock, for which the European Community Plant Variety Right (CPVR) was applied in December 2015, under the breeder reference name PJK2014. This rootstock can easily be propagated by hardwood cuttings, while no hormonal treatment is needed. Grafting tests with the main known cultivars were very successful. Concerning fruit quality, the present assortment of cultivars does not fully meet consumers’ expectations who are demanding for high quality products for fresh use (arils) and transformed derivatives such as  juices, jellies and  jams.  In order to meet these expectations, the CREA-FRU initiated a breeding programme targeted at the development of new varieties for fruit quality under different aspects. Specific objectives of these activities are the improvement of organoleptic qualities (high sugar/acidity ratio), high juice content, soft pink or red arils, as well as new fruit shape and colour, early ripening, long  shelf life and promising  post-harvest performance and  low sensibility to fruit cracking.Concerning plant habit, genotypes showing an evenly spreading canopy with strong branches and thornless twigs are preferred. The basic material for these breeding lines was provided by two different populations, one of Mediterranean origin and the other from the Near East, both exhibiting considerable phenotypic variability, but generally speaking, the first one having scarcely coloured fruits and low acidity, the latter one with intensively coloured fruits but high levels of acidity. We obtained 20 selections with agronomically and pomologically interesting and innovative characteristics compared to the cultivars which are currently available on the market: bright red, black or dark brown skin, intensely soft pink or bordeaux-coloured arils, and plants with standard growth habit or dwarf, without spines and high productive capacity.