Potential correlation between growth habit and yield of Spanish pomegranate cultivars

The vegetative growth habit as well as the yield of seven pomegranate varieties native to Southeastern Spain was studied. The evaluated cultivars were: Mollar de Elche 14 and 15 (“ME14” and “ME15”), Piñón tierno de Ojós 2, 4, 7 and 8 (“PTO2”, “PTO4”, “PTO7” and “PTO8”) and Casta del Reino 1 (“CRO1”).Very short vegetative shoots bearing a rosette of leaves behave as photosynthetic units. These units were abundant in all evaluated varieties; approximately 50% of all buds yielded this type of shoot unit. The other 50% were either mixed shoots or shoots with apical flower buds. Moreover, there appeared to be a tendency of the “PTO” varietal group and the “CRO1” cultivar to produce a higher number of mixed shoots than the ME varietal group. The Mollar de Elche varieties yielded longer mixed shoots than prompt lateral ones. The “PTO” varietal group and the “CRO1” cultivar approximately produced from 2 to 4 length units of prompt lateral shoots per each mixed shoot unit. An inversely proportional relationship was established between the length of prompt lateral shoots and each variety's fruit yield.

► Short woody units with leaves appear among the varieties studied in higher numbers. ► Approximately 50% of all buds yielded this type of shoot unit. ► The other 50% were either mixed shoots or shoots with apical flower buds. ► Of all the varieties studied, the ME14 and ME15 are the most productive. ► A negative correlation between the length of prompt shoots and each cv. yield.