Effect of Different Harvest Stage on Physical and Bio-chemical Characteristics of Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) Fruit in Climatic Condition of  Baghmalek (Khuzestan Province)

Pomegranate (Punica granatum) is an important fruit crop cultivated for fruit and processing in the Iran. Delaying fruit harvest of pomegranate may increase fruit losses due to fruit cracking; however، early harvest may influence physical and biochemical indices of fruit. An experiment was carried out in 2011 at ‘Baghmalek’ (North West of Ahwaz، Khuzestan province، Iran) to determine the effects of three stages of fruit harvest (fruit maturity) on quality of fruit in three local cultivars of pomegranate. Fruit weight، density، percentage of juice، peel and seed، vitamin C، total soluble solid (TSS)، acidity (TA)، anthocyanin and maturity index (TSS/TA) were used for fruit quality assessment. A close relationship was observed between fruit quality and time of fruit harvest (fruit maturity). The fruit quality in respect of TSS، maturity index (TSS/TA)، fruit juice color intensity and quality، anthocyanin was superior in fruit harvested from fruits harvested at the 2th and 3th harvest time. Results revealed that the aril weight، TSS، fruit juice color quality was high in ‘Poost Sabz’. Also، lowest fruit L/D، fruit juice، anthocyanin/browning substances ratio and fruit juice color intensity was recorded by ‘Poost Sabz’. Percentage of fruit juice، fruit L/D and vitamin C was high for the fruits of ‘Poost Zard’. Overall، pomegranate fruits harvested at the end of summer had significantly lower quality than fruits harvested at the later stages.