Effect of Plant Growth Regulators and Streptomycin on Improving Fruit and Seed Quality of Pomegranate cv. Malase Yazdi

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.