The Effect of Deficit Irrigation on the Quality Characteristics and Physiological Disorders of Pomegranate Fruits
This study assesses the impact of two regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) and one sustained deficit irrigation (SDI) strategies on the fruit quality characteristics of pomegranate (<i>Punica granatum</i> L.) compared to a fully irrigated control in a Mediterranean climate. Field trials we...
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MDPI AG
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Plants |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/5/720 |
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| author | Rossana Porras-Jorge José Mariano Aguilar Carlos Baixauli Julián Bartual Bernardo Pascual Nuria Pascual-Seva |
| author_facet | Rossana Porras-Jorge José Mariano Aguilar Carlos Baixauli Julián Bartual Bernardo Pascual Nuria Pascual-Seva |
| author_sort | Rossana Porras-Jorge |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study assesses the impact of two regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) and one sustained deficit irrigation (SDI) strategies on the fruit quality characteristics of pomegranate (<i>Punica granatum</i> L.) compared to a fully irrigated control in a Mediterranean climate. Field trials were conducted over two growing seasons at the Cajamar Experimental Center in Paiporta, Valencia, Spain. The SDI strategy, which achieved considerable water savings of approximately 50%, led to a reduction in yield (both total and marketable), as well as a decrease in the size and unit weight of the fruits. However, it also produced arils with higher dry matter content and aril juice with higher soluble solids content, all without altering the maturity index. Notably, the SDI approach resulted in increased non-marketable production due to a higher incidence of cracking, particularly during the exceptionally hot and dry summer of 2023. Although the maturity index remained unchanged across the irrigation strategies, the SDI yielded a greater percentage of pink-red rind on marketable fruits compared to the other strategies. This is important because ‘Mollar de Elche’ pomegranates are typically harvested based on their external colour. Thus, the SDI strategy could allow for earlier harvesting, potentially enhancing the commercial value, as earlier harvests often command higher prices, which may partially offset some of the reduction in marketable yield. Conversely, both RDI strategies achieved a slight water saving without compromising marketable yield or the quality characteristics of the fruit. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-02e7e00e67b04b7dbf1d55a3a1d4a3c6 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2223-7747 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Plants |
| spelling | doaj-art-02e7e00e67b04b7dbf1d55a3a1d4a3c62025-08-20T02:06:13ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472025-02-0114572010.3390/plants14050720The Effect of Deficit Irrigation on the Quality Characteristics and Physiological Disorders of Pomegranate FruitsRossana Porras-Jorge0José Mariano Aguilar1Carlos Baixauli2Julián Bartual3Bernardo Pascual4Nuria Pascual-Seva5Departamento de Producción Vegetal, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camí de Vera, s/n, 46022 València, València, SpainCentro Experiencias Cajamar Paiporta, C. Cementerio Nuevo s/n, 46200 Paiporta, València, SpainCentro Experiencias Cajamar Paiporta, C. Cementerio Nuevo s/n, 46200 Paiporta, València, SpainEstación Experimental Agraria de Elche (SST), CV-855, Km. 1, 03290 Elche, Alicante, SpainCentro Valenciano de Estudios Sobre el Riego, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camí de Vera, s/n, 46022 València, València, SpainCentro Valenciano de Estudios Sobre el Riego, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camí de Vera, s/n, 46022 València, València, SpainThis study assesses the impact of two regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) and one sustained deficit irrigation (SDI) strategies on the fruit quality characteristics of pomegranate (<i>Punica granatum</i> L.) compared to a fully irrigated control in a Mediterranean climate. Field trials were conducted over two growing seasons at the Cajamar Experimental Center in Paiporta, Valencia, Spain. The SDI strategy, which achieved considerable water savings of approximately 50%, led to a reduction in yield (both total and marketable), as well as a decrease in the size and unit weight of the fruits. However, it also produced arils with higher dry matter content and aril juice with higher soluble solids content, all without altering the maturity index. Notably, the SDI approach resulted in increased non-marketable production due to a higher incidence of cracking, particularly during the exceptionally hot and dry summer of 2023. Although the maturity index remained unchanged across the irrigation strategies, the SDI yielded a greater percentage of pink-red rind on marketable fruits compared to the other strategies. This is important because ‘Mollar de Elche’ pomegranates are typically harvested based on their external colour. Thus, the SDI strategy could allow for earlier harvesting, potentially enhancing the commercial value, as earlier harvests often command higher prices, which may partially offset some of the reduction in marketable yield. Conversely, both RDI strategies achieved a slight water saving without compromising marketable yield or the quality characteristics of the fruit.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/5/720‘Mollar de Elche’sustained deficit irrigationregulated deficit irrigationsensory characteristics of fruitscracking |
| spellingShingle | Rossana Porras-Jorge José Mariano Aguilar Carlos Baixauli Julián Bartual Bernardo Pascual Nuria Pascual-Seva The Effect of Deficit Irrigation on the Quality Characteristics and Physiological Disorders of Pomegranate Fruits Plants ‘Mollar de Elche’ sustained deficit irrigation regulated deficit irrigation sensory characteristics of fruits cracking |
| title | The Effect of Deficit Irrigation on the Quality Characteristics and Physiological Disorders of Pomegranate Fruits |
| title_full | The Effect of Deficit Irrigation on the Quality Characteristics and Physiological Disorders of Pomegranate Fruits |
| title_fullStr | The Effect of Deficit Irrigation on the Quality Characteristics and Physiological Disorders of Pomegranate Fruits |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Effect of Deficit Irrigation on the Quality Characteristics and Physiological Disorders of Pomegranate Fruits |
| title_short | The Effect of Deficit Irrigation on the Quality Characteristics and Physiological Disorders of Pomegranate Fruits |
| title_sort | effect of deficit irrigation on the quality characteristics and physiological disorders of pomegranate fruits |
| topic | ‘Mollar de Elche’ sustained deficit irrigation regulated deficit irrigation sensory characteristics of fruits cracking |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/5/720 |
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