Tropical and subtropical fruits (2+1)

Introduction

Pomegranate

Botanical name.: Punica granatum Lin.
Family: Punicaceae
Chromosome No. : 2n= 18
Origin: Iran.

• Pomegranate is one of the ancient and important table fruit in tropical countries. It is grown on large scale in the Mediterranean countries such as Iron, Spain, Morocco and Egypt etc. It is grown all over India and commercially in Maharashtra (more than 60 per cent) followed by Gujarat, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu etc. Besides,
• The edible part of pomegranate is a juicy outgrowth of the seed called the aril. It is liked for the cool refreshing juice and also valued for its medicinal properties. The juice is useful for patients suffering from leprosy. The bark & rind of the fruit are commonly used in dysentery and diarrhea. The dried seeds of pomegranate give important condiment called ‘Anardana.’ Tannin is obtained from fruit rind leaves stem & root bark. The flowers, yield red dye, which is used for dyeing cloth. One pomegranate fruit supplies about 40% of an adult’s daily Vit-C requirement. It is also rich in Riboflavin, protein, fat, sugar, pectin, Ca & Iron content.
• The tree is deciduous in temperate countries, while it is evergreen in tropical and subtropical regions. The fruits are borne terminally on short spurs, arising from mature shoots. Tree is hardy and bushy having a tendency of developing multi-stems