Pomegranate (Punica granatum) is native to Iran and has been cultivated throughout the Mediterranean and Asia for thousands of years. It is a drought resistant tree grown for its fruit. There are over 700 pomegranate varieties worldwide with significant genetic diversity. Major producing countries include India, Iran, Israel, and Tunisia which host large germplasm collections to preserve genetic resources. Pomegranate cultivation is increasing globally due to health benefits and the fruit's suitability for arid zones.

2. Botanical name: Punica granatum
Family : Punicaceae
2n =18
INTRODUCTION
The pomegranate (Punica granatum L., Punicaceae) is capable of
growing in a variety of climate ranging from tropical to temperate and
as a result, a large number of diverse forms have been evolved over the
years in nature.

3. The fruit was very popular in Iraq.
In ancient Egypt, the pomegranate received the name "Arhumani".
The old Semitic denomination was "Rimmon" from which derived
the Hebrew "Ramon" and the Arabic "Rumman" names Punica
granatum.
It is native to Iran (Persia)
ORIGIN AND DISTRIBUTION
The pomegranate is one of the oldest known edible fruits.
The species mentioned in the Bible and the Kuran and is often
associated to fertility.

4.  The Romans first called this species "Malum punicum" (Punic
apple or apple of Carthage) that evolved to"Punicum granatum"
and C. Von Linne, finally, give the name as Punica granatum.
 In the Near East (Persia, Turkey, etc.), Central Asia
(Afghanistan, etc.) and India, the fruit is commonly named as
"Anar"
 Pomegranate is considered as an excellent tree for growing in
arid zones for its resistance to drought conditions.

5.  It is cultivated in Central Asia and to some extent in the USA
(California), Russia, China and Japan for fruit production and is
also developed as an ornamental tree in East Asia.
 Ex situ and in situ collections are already established in different
countries.

8. DISTRIBUTION IN INDIA
The major pomegranate producing belts are as follows:
 Maharashtra (Solapur, Sangli, Nashik, Ahmedanagar, Pune,
Dhule, Aurangabad, Satara, Osmanabad and Latur
districts).
 Karnataka (Bijapur and Bagalkot)
 Gujarat
 Rajasthan
 Uttar Pradesh
 Andhra Pradesh
 Tamil Nadu
 Punjab & Haryana.

9. SPECIES DIVERSITY
 The genus Punica has two species, Punica granatum and Punica
protopunica and the latter is wild type and found wild in the
Socotra Island
 Chlorocarpa and Porphyrocarpa are the two sub species of species
granatum, the former is indigenous to Trans-Caucasus region and
the later species is native to Central Asia

11. GENETIC RESOURCES
 Some parts of the Mediterranean area are considered as native
lands of pomegranate..
 The grown local material may be considered as the pomegranate
primary gene pool. Punica granatum grows wild in the near
east, Transcaucasia, Dagestan and also in Asia minor. In these
regions, hybridization between cultivated and wild forms is,
probably, still taking place.
 Wild forms (populations) would be the secondary gene pool. The
tertiary pomegranate gene pool would consist of forms of the
pomegranate wild relative (Punica protopunica).

12. It was presumed that P.protopunica played a part in the origin of the
cultivated pomegranate.
ORNAMENTAL NON FRUITING TYPES
 P. granatum double red: The calyx tube is much larger than the
other forms A large number of bright scarlet petals is present. It gives
profuse flowering during summer.

13. P. granatum double white: produces white coloured flowers
P. granatum double yellow: with brilliant yellow coloured flowers
P.granatum double dwarf: It is also called as P.granatum nana
racemosa. It is a dwarf plant with cluster flowering nature. Scarlet
flowers are produced in long stalks.

14.  P.granatum variegated: it is a mutant of dwarf red. Large and
handsome flowers with red and yellow stripes are present.
 Pentaploidy: In pomegranate, the double flowers are formed due
to this phenomenon in which the stamens are converted to petals.
Thus the flower fails to set fruits.

15. Khandhari:
Fruits are large, rind is
deep red.
The aril is deep blood red
or deep pink with sweet
slightly acidic juice
seeds are very hard
Commercial variety of H.P.

16. Muskat Red:
 Produce small to medium size fruits with thick red rind.
 Aril is fleshy with moderately sweet juice, seeds are medium hard.
 Commercially grown is kolhar, Rahuri regions of Maharashtra.
 High yielding & better quality strains have been selected from the
cultivar Muscat viz., P-13, P-16, P-23, ASK-3

17. Alandi & Vadki:
 Fruits are medium sized, red in colour aril fleshy, blood
red or deep pink with sweet acidic juice.
 seeds are very hard grown in Maharashtra (Pune) & in
Gujarat.

18. Kabul:
 Produces large fruits, dark red with yellow patches.
 aril dark red fleshy hard with slightly bitter juice.
Jodhpur red/ local:
 Fruits medium to large, hard rind,
 fleshy aril light pink sweet juicy,
 seeds moderately hard.

19. VARIETAL WEALTH
GANESH
 This variety is developed by selection
method.
 It is a prolific bearer,
 fruit very large, rind yellowish red,
pinkish aril with soft seeds.
 It is the commercial cultivar of
Maharashtra.
 The average yield ranges from 8-10 kg
per tree.

20. ARAKTA
The fruits are smaller than Ganesh,
variety having dark red coloured arils with
soft seeds.
 The variety is commercially is grown in
Maharastra.
heavy yielder and possesses desirable
fruit characters.
It also possess glossy, attractive, dark red
skin. It is less susceptible to fruit spots and
thrips.

21. BHAGAWA / KESAR:
It is a selection from Phule Aarakta.
Bigger fruit size, sweet, bold and
attractive arils, glossy, very attractive
saffron coloured thick skin makes it
suitable for distant markets.
It is more resistant to fruit cracking
& fruit drop.

23. MUSKAT
 The fruits of this variety have red rind with pink coloured arils.
The fruits are with average weight of 300-350 grams.
DHOLKA
 This cultivar has large fruits with greenish white rind with whitish
to pinkish white thick soft aril.
 Seeds are very soft & juice is very sweet. Commercial cultivar of
Gujarat (around Ahmedabad)

24. JYOTI
 As a result of evaluation of a large number of seedling
populations of Bassein Seedless and Dholka, a highly promising
type GKVK-1 was selected and released under the name 'Jyothi'.
 The fruits are large with attractive colour having dark red arils.
 The seeds are very soft with high pulp and juice contents.
 Fruits are borne on the inner side of the canopy and thus do not
get damaged due to sun scorching.

25. RUBY
This variety is developed at IIHR, Bangalore.
The mature fruits resemble cultivar 'Ganesh' with respect to
shape and size.
However, the rind of this variety is reddish brown with
green streaks containing red bold arils.
The fruit weighs 270 g with an average yield of 16-18
tonnes/ha.

26. G137: Clonal selection from Ganesh with better fruit qualities.
YERCAUD 1: Developed at Horticultural Research Station, TNAU,
Yercaud. It has easily peelable rind with attractive purple arils.
SPANISH RUBY
Fruit small to medium in size, rind thin, fleshy testa,
rose coloured, seeds are soft.

27. Jalore seedless:
 Soft seeded variety and recommended by Central Arid zone
research Institute, Jodhpur for arid zones as the fruit maturity is
early and maximum fruit production is coincided with available
soil moisture.
 Fruits are large in size weighing 200 g and fruits are attractive in
appearance.
 Skin colour is pink to deep red.
 The arils are pink to red having soft seeds.

28. Varieties State
Alandi and Muskat Maharashtra
Madhugiri and Bassein seedless Karnataka
Dholka Gujarat
Jodhpuri Red, Jodhapuri White and Jalore
seedless
Rajasthan
Chawla, Nabha, and Country Large Red Haryana
Velludu, CO1, YCD 1 Tamil Nadu

29. GERMPLASM COLLECTION
 Eight countries of the former USSR have collections of pomegranate
germplasm. Azerbaijan, The Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan have
relatively large collections of 200-300 accessions.
 The collection of the Turkmenistan Experimental Station of Plant
Genetic Resources was established in 1934 and is the largest in the
world containing 1117 accessions.

30. A core collection was also established and is 10% of the size of the
main collection.
For the unique wild relative of the pomegranate (Punica protopunica),
an expedition was made and located the species at 5 sites in the Socotra
island (Yemen) and seeds were collected and successfully germinated.
Experiments have shown that the cryopreservation is suitable for
storage of seed and pollen of pomegranate cultivars.

31. HIMALAYAS
 The genus Punica (Punicaceae) is distributed in Iran, Afghanistan,
India and Mediterranean countries.
 Iran is considered to be its primary center of origin. In India Punica
granatum is found in wild only in Western Himalayan regions
comprising, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand
states.
 Dehradun, Pithoragarh, Nainital, Almora, Tehri, Kangra, Mandi and
Kullu wild pomegranates were found to occur

32. Sl.No Centres Number of collections
1. PAU, Abohar, Punjab 19
2. ANGRAU, Anantpur, Andhra Pradesh 29
3. TNAU, Arupukottai, Tamil Nadu 24
4. CCSHAU, Bawal, Haryana 09
5. CIAH, Bikaner, Rajasthan 152
6. IIHR, Bangalore, Karnataka 64
7. RAU, Jobner, Rajasthan 09
8. CAZRI, Jodhpur, Rajasthan 34
9. MPKV, Rahuri, Maharashtra 52
10. S.K. Nagar, Gujarat 52
11. NRCP, Solapur, Maharashtra 187

33. WORLDWIDE GERMPLASM COLLECTIONS
 CHINA: The chinese cultivars are spur type. Mostly white flowered,
large fruits with sweet taste. They are early bearing evergreen
cultivars.
 IRAN: It possesses more than 700 accessions.
 ISRAEL: The Israeli varieties have more anti-oxidant properties. The
amount of Punicalin, Punicalagin, Gallagic acid, Ellagic acid etc are
more in these varieties.
 TUNISIA: it is considered as the secondary centre of origin and
diversification. 60 accessions are protected here.
.

34. FUTURE PROSPECTS
Since the exsitu collection cannot exceed a limited number of
accessions, it is difficult to preserve the evolutionary potential of the
species. Thus, in situconservation of genetic resources must be
considered.
The role of traditional local growers in the preservation of this
primary gene pool is valuable.
New methods (biochemical and molecular techniques, etc.) have to
be developed for cultivar identification and genetic studies.
Particular guidelines for the safe movement of pomegranate genetic
resources have to be elaborated.Adaptation and screening trials should
be established with particular emphasis on fruit quality and
physiological disorders and pest resistance

35. REFERENCES
 Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution (2005) 52: 959–966.
 Girish Sharma, O.C. Sharma and B.S.Thakur.2009. Systematics
of Fruit Crops. New India Publishing Agency, Pitam Pura, New
Delhi, pp. 257-262
 Peter, K.V. 2011. Biodiversity in Horticultural Crops, Daya
Publishing House, New Delhi. Vol.3: 229-250