sarikhanih

Pomegranate is one of the most important fruit crop in Iran which its demand was increased because of its pleasant taste and its medicinal properties. Almost all of pomegranate consumers prefere soft-seeded fruits. Current research was designed to investigate the effect of two palnt growth regulators and streptomycin on improving fruit and seed quality of pomegranate. Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) (10mg/l), kinetin (Ki) (10mg/l) and streptomycin (SM) (200mg/l) were sprayed at two growth stages of fruit set and four weeks after that on pomegranate trees cv. Malase Yazdi. Then, at harvest stage, effect of these treatments on edible portion of fruit, weight, size, water content and fiber aggregation in seed and chemical properties of fruit were studied. Results indicated a significant increase in maturity index of treated fruits in comparison to those of control. Plus, higest total phenolic content was observed in SM treated fruits. Application of IAA at fruit set stage and Ki both at fruit set stage and four weeks after that increased edible portion through increasing size and weight of aril. Furthermore, application of SM especially at fruit set stage and application of Ki at fruit set stage significantly reduced lignification of seed. The results were demonstrated that Ki and IAA could increase fruit quality of pomegranate cv. Malase Yazdi, however, SM at beginning of fruit set stage reduced fiber aggregation in inner layer of seed, in addition to fruit quality.

This study is aimed to investigate the effects of kaolin and gibberellic acid on sunburn and quality of pomegranate fruit cv 'Rabab Neiriz'. Kaolin was applied on branches and fruits at two concentrations, 2.5 and 5 percent, followed by two monthly replications. Gibberellin was applied as another treatment at 150 mg/l at same time of first application of kaolin. Results indicated that application of kaolin at 5 percent significantly increased fruit and aril size, and reduced fruit skin thickness. However, application of kaolin in both concentrations and gibberellic acid showed a significant increase in aril water content. Anthocyanin content of aril reduced in fruits treated by 5 percent of kaolin. Gibberellic acid prevents sunburn intensity and percentage in comparison to those of control. The lowest rate of sunburn intensity and percentage was observed in kaolin treated fruits and there was no significant differences between 2.5 and 5 percent of it. As a conclusion, Kaolin is an effective treatment for reducing sunburn and increasing fruit quality in pomegranate fruit.

The study was conducted to investigate the effect of male parent on embryo rescue of three seedless cultivars, Flame Seedless, Yaghooti and Askary. Pistils of female parents were emasculated and then were pollinated with pollen of Bidaneh Sefid (seedless), Dizmary or Mehdikhani (seeded) and self-pollinated as control. Forty days after full bloom, berries were harvested, ovules were excised and cultured on Nitsch and Nitsch medium containing 1 µM GA3, 10 µM IAA and 2 g/l activated charcoal. Germinated ovules were transferred to 1/2 MS medium. Male parent had significant effect on ovule blackening and ovule germination and no effect on callus formation, ovule growth or ovule collapse. The percentage of blackened ovules was increased when Bidaneh Sefid was used as male parent. However, it reduced the number of germinated ovules in compared with those from self-pollination. The effects of seeded male parents varied for different female parents. Compared with self-pollination, Dizmary increased ovule germination but Mehdikhani had no effect on ovule germination. It was found that embryo development and germination varied greatly with both female and male parent genotypes.