Evaluation of some physio-chemical proprieties of eight local pomegranate cultivars grown in Najaf-Abad region of Isfahan

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is one of the oldest edible fruits with high variability and is native to Iran. This research was conducted to evaluate the morphological and biochemical characteristics of eight local pomegranate cultivars including Aliakbari, Gar, Post ghermez, Golabi, Sorahi, Mirzaei, Yazdani and Lopsorkhi grown in Najaf-Abad region of Isfahan. Pomegranate fruits were harvested at full maturity stage and the considered traits were measured according to standard methods. Among the studied cultivars, the Post ghermez cultivar had the highest 100 aril (45.2 g) fresh weight. The highest fruit peel thickness (4.71 mm) was measured in Gar cultivar. Aliakbari cultivar had the highest amount of total anthocyanin content (1.41 mg/100 g), total phenolic content (58.56 mg/100 g) and titratable acidity (1.06 mg/100 g). The highest phenotypic variation was seen in harvest index, and Lopsorkhi and Aliakbari cultivars had the highest and lowest values for this trait, respectively. Overall, Aliakbari and Sorahi cultivars due to the highest favorable traits can be introduced as the elite cultivars.