Morphological and pomological characterizations of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) to select superior genotypes
Abstract Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is a highly diverse species with significant variation in morphological and pomological traits. Characterizing this diversity is essential for improving breeding strategies, particularly to enhance fruit quality, yield, and consumer acceptance. This study us...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2025-02-01
|
| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-91595-8 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849766781194862592 |
|---|---|
| author | Ali Khadivi Farhad Mirheidari Abdolvahid Saeidifar Younes Moradi Yazgan Tunç |
| author_facet | Ali Khadivi Farhad Mirheidari Abdolvahid Saeidifar Younes Moradi Yazgan Tunç |
| author_sort | Ali Khadivi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is a highly diverse species with significant variation in morphological and pomological traits. Characterizing this diversity is essential for improving breeding strategies, particularly to enhance fruit quality, yield, and consumer acceptance. This study used statistical tools, including correlation matrix analysis (CMA), principal component analysis (PCA), multiple regression analysis (MRA), and heat map analysis (HMA) to explore trait clustering and genotype differentiation. PCA revealed that the first three components accounted for 31.54% of the total variation. PC1 (11.66%) was driven by traits such as fruit length (0.94), fruit diameter (0.93), fruit weight (0.93), and fruit peel weight (0.93). Heat map analysis grouped variables into four clusters, with traits like total soluble solids (7–22%, mean: 14.72% ± 2.99) and 100-aril fresh weight (19.34–49.46 g, mean: 32.51 g ± 7.93) being critical for marketability. Genotypes were divided into four groups, with subgroup D2 comprising ‘Karimabad-6’, ‘Karimabad-5’, ‘Karimabad-3’, ‘Karimabad-2’, ‘Karimabad-4’, ‘Sangan-2’, ‘Padik-4’, ‘Karimabad-8’, ‘Karimabad-7’, ‘Sangan-1’, ‘Padik-11’, ‘Padik-3’, ‘Padik-2’, ‘Sangan-4’, ‘Sangan-3’, ‘Padik-12’, ‘Karimabad-1’, ‘Sangan-9’, ‘Sangan-8’, ‘Padik-1’, and ‘Daman-9’. MRA identified significant correlations for key traits: fruit weight showed a positive correlation with fruit diameter (β = 0.66, p < 0.00) and fruit length (β = 0.32, p < 0.01), while fruit peel weight showed positive correlations with fruit weight (β = 0.92, p < 0.00) and fruit peel thickness (β = 0.12, p < 0.00). Total soluble solids showed a positive correlation with 100-aril fresh weight (β = 0.80, p < 0.00). These correlations, which were determined to be statistically significant by MRA, are supported by CMA. In the PCA biplot analysis, ‘Daman-2’, ‘Daman-5’, ‘Daman-7’, ‘Karimabad-4’, ‘Padik-9’, ‘Sangan-2’, and ‘Sangan-4’ genotypes were identified as outliers with extreme combinations of fruit traits, falling outside the 95% confidence ellipse, suggesting their potential for breeding programs targeting unique features. This study emphasizes the importance of fruit-related traits, including size, weight, and soluble solids, in genotype differentiation and marketability. Heat map and PCA analyses provided a comprehensive framework for clustering variables and genotypes, identifying actionable targets for breeding. Notably, ‘Sangan-1’, ‘Sangan-2’, ‘Karimabad-1’, ‘Karimabad-2’, ‘Karimabad-3’, and ‘Karimabad-4’ were identified as very soft-seeded genotypes, highlighting their potential for consumer-preferred traits. These findings contribute to improving pomegranate breeding strategies by integrating genetic diversity with agronomic and market demands. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-bee0d0b51f754d61a815ccf58c685557 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-bee0d0b51f754d61a815ccf58c6855572025-08-20T03:04:27ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-02-0115112110.1038/s41598-025-91595-8Morphological and pomological characterizations of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) to select superior genotypesAli Khadivi0Farhad Mirheidari1Abdolvahid Saeidifar2Younes Moradi3Yazgan Tunç4Department of Horticultural Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Arak UniversityDepartment of Horticultural Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Arak UniversityMinistry of Agriculture JihadDepartment of Horticultural Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Arak UniversityRepublic of Türkiye, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, General Directorate of Agricultural Research and Policies, Hatay Olive Research Institute DirectorateAbstract Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is a highly diverse species with significant variation in morphological and pomological traits. Characterizing this diversity is essential for improving breeding strategies, particularly to enhance fruit quality, yield, and consumer acceptance. This study used statistical tools, including correlation matrix analysis (CMA), principal component analysis (PCA), multiple regression analysis (MRA), and heat map analysis (HMA) to explore trait clustering and genotype differentiation. PCA revealed that the first three components accounted for 31.54% of the total variation. PC1 (11.66%) was driven by traits such as fruit length (0.94), fruit diameter (0.93), fruit weight (0.93), and fruit peel weight (0.93). Heat map analysis grouped variables into four clusters, with traits like total soluble solids (7–22%, mean: 14.72% ± 2.99) and 100-aril fresh weight (19.34–49.46 g, mean: 32.51 g ± 7.93) being critical for marketability. Genotypes were divided into four groups, with subgroup D2 comprising ‘Karimabad-6’, ‘Karimabad-5’, ‘Karimabad-3’, ‘Karimabad-2’, ‘Karimabad-4’, ‘Sangan-2’, ‘Padik-4’, ‘Karimabad-8’, ‘Karimabad-7’, ‘Sangan-1’, ‘Padik-11’, ‘Padik-3’, ‘Padik-2’, ‘Sangan-4’, ‘Sangan-3’, ‘Padik-12’, ‘Karimabad-1’, ‘Sangan-9’, ‘Sangan-8’, ‘Padik-1’, and ‘Daman-9’. MRA identified significant correlations for key traits: fruit weight showed a positive correlation with fruit diameter (β = 0.66, p < 0.00) and fruit length (β = 0.32, p < 0.01), while fruit peel weight showed positive correlations with fruit weight (β = 0.92, p < 0.00) and fruit peel thickness (β = 0.12, p < 0.00). Total soluble solids showed a positive correlation with 100-aril fresh weight (β = 0.80, p < 0.00). These correlations, which were determined to be statistically significant by MRA, are supported by CMA. In the PCA biplot analysis, ‘Daman-2’, ‘Daman-5’, ‘Daman-7’, ‘Karimabad-4’, ‘Padik-9’, ‘Sangan-2’, and ‘Sangan-4’ genotypes were identified as outliers with extreme combinations of fruit traits, falling outside the 95% confidence ellipse, suggesting their potential for breeding programs targeting unique features. This study emphasizes the importance of fruit-related traits, including size, weight, and soluble solids, in genotype differentiation and marketability. Heat map and PCA analyses provided a comprehensive framework for clustering variables and genotypes, identifying actionable targets for breeding. Notably, ‘Sangan-1’, ‘Sangan-2’, ‘Karimabad-1’, ‘Karimabad-2’, ‘Karimabad-3’, and ‘Karimabad-4’ were identified as very soft-seeded genotypes, highlighting their potential for consumer-preferred traits. These findings contribute to improving pomegranate breeding strategies by integrating genetic diversity with agronomic and market demands.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-91595-8Genetic diversityMarketabilityMultivariate analysisSelection breedingSoft seedsSistan-va-Baluchestan |
| spellingShingle | Ali Khadivi Farhad Mirheidari Abdolvahid Saeidifar Younes Moradi Yazgan Tunç Morphological and pomological characterizations of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) to select superior genotypes Scientific Reports Genetic diversity Marketability Multivariate analysis Selection breeding Soft seeds Sistan-va-Baluchestan |
| title | Morphological and pomological characterizations of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) to select superior genotypes |
| title_full | Morphological and pomological characterizations of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) to select superior genotypes |
| title_fullStr | Morphological and pomological characterizations of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) to select superior genotypes |
| title_full_unstemmed | Morphological and pomological characterizations of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) to select superior genotypes |
| title_short | Morphological and pomological characterizations of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) to select superior genotypes |
| title_sort | morphological and pomological characterizations of pomegranate punica granatum l to select superior genotypes |
| topic | Genetic diversity Marketability Multivariate analysis Selection breeding Soft seeds Sistan-va-Baluchestan |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-91595-8 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT alikhadivi morphologicalandpomologicalcharacterizationsofpomegranatepunicagranatumltoselectsuperiorgenotypes AT farhadmirheidari morphologicalandpomologicalcharacterizationsofpomegranatepunicagranatumltoselectsuperiorgenotypes AT abdolvahidsaeidifar morphologicalandpomologicalcharacterizationsofpomegranatepunicagranatumltoselectsuperiorgenotypes AT younesmoradi morphologicalandpomologicalcharacterizationsofpomegranatepunicagranatumltoselectsuperiorgenotypes AT yazgantunc morphologicalandpomologicalcharacterizationsofpomegranatepunicagranatumltoselectsuperiorgenotypes |