Comparative Evaluation of Commercial Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) Cultivars under Semi-Arid Conditions of Western Maharashtra, India

DOI: 10.22161/ijeab.112.3

Abstract:
Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is an important fruit crop cultivated widely in the semi-arid regions of India, particularly in Western Maharashtra. Identifying suitable cultivars that perform well under these climatic conditions is essential for improving productivity and fruit quality. A field experiment was conducted under semi-arid conditions at the ICAR–National Research Centre on Pomegranate, Solapur, to comparatively evaluate five commercially grown cultivars: Bhagwa, Super Bhagwa, Solapur Lal, Sharad King, and Ganesh. The study was carried out using a randomized block design (RBD) with four replications. Observations were recorded on vegetative growth, flowering behavior, fruit yield, and important fruit quality attributes. The results revealed significant differences among the cultivars for most of the parameters studied. Among the evaluated cultivars, Bhagwa produced the longest new shoots (32.10 cm), recorded the highest fruit yield (25.10 kg per plant), and exhibited superior juice recovery (51.20%). Solapur Lal showed comparatively higher total soluble solids (16.50 °Brix), indicating better fruit sweetness and quality. In contrast, the traditional cultivar Ganesh showed comparatively lower performance in several growth, yield, and quality parameters. Overall, the results suggest that improved cultivars, such as Bhagwa and Solapur Lal, are better suited to cultivation under the semi-arid agro-climatic conditions of Western Maharashtra and can contribute to enhanced productivity and improved fruit quality in commercial pomegranate production.

Keywords:
Pomegranate, cultivars, semi-arid climate, yield, fruit quality, Bhagwa, Solapur Lal, Super Bhagwa.

Article Info:
Received: 27 Jan 2026; Received in revised form: 25 Feb 2026; Accepted: 03 Mar 202; Available online: 10 Mar 2026

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