Effect of kaolin clay on pomegranate fruits sunburn

Sunburn of pomegranate fruits, is one of the most important agent causing losses in Iran and other pomegranate producing countries which reduce the quantity and quality of the product. Application of the kaolin particle film might be an alternative for control of the pomegranate fruit sunburn. To assess the impact of kaolin, trials were conducted in the fields on Malas and Galoobarik varieties of pomegranate during 2009 in Saveh and Garmsar regions (central part of Iran). Two concentrations of kaolin clay (Sepidan® WP) (3 and 5%) were sprayed over the whole canopy and fruits, four times at 4–5-week intervals from early May to early September. Based on the field studies, the rates of fruits sunburn were 4.15 and 1.77 for control and kaolin (5%) treatmentrespectively. Also, the high sunburn of pomegranate fruits were recorded 44.7 and 4.2% for control and kaolin (5%) treatment respectively. The fruit cracking was reduced 64% and fruit weight mean were increased 9% in kaolin treatments in comparison with the control treatment. Spray of kaolin 5% on pomegranate trees was no evil-effect on leaves chlorophyll and photosynthesis.