A COMPARISON STUDY ON YIELD AND FRUIT QUALITY OF SOME POMEGRANATE CULTIVARS UNDER ASSIUT GOVERNORATE CONDITIONS

This work was carried out on six pomegranate cultivars namely: Wardy, Araby , Manfalouty , Nab El Gamal, Hhegazy, and Montakhab through two successive seasons grown in a private farm at Assuit government trees were about 13 years and planting distance was 5X5m . Assuit is governorate considered one of the most important pomegranate producers and exporters in Egypt. The yield and some fruit physical and chemical properties of six different pomegranate cultivars (Punica Granatum L.) were investigated. This investigation aimed to study tree yield and the main fruit characteristics of six commercial pomegranate cultivars. The average fruit yield / tree lies between 38.10–59.90 kg, fruit weight130.96– 399.77g, fruit volume 125.7–520 cm³, fruit diameter 6.23– 9.60 c fruit shape index 1.00–1.10 respectively . Fruit dry matter20.49 – 38.57, in addition, total soluble solid content was found between 8.00–16.67, titratable acidity ranged between 0. 25– 0.53, TSS / Acid ratio between 0.27–0.63, total sugars 9.13–% 11.86, reducing sugars 1.22%–5.80, respectively. Finally it could be concluded that, Manfalouty and Hegazy cultivars recorded most excellent physical, chemical and visual characteristics which are preferred.