Orchard establishment, precocity, and eco-physiological traits of several pomegranate cultivars

California faces many threats to food security, ranging from water limitations resulting from long-term drought to invasive pests and diseases. Major tree crops, such as citrus and avocado, are threatened by Citrus Greening and Fusarium Dieback, respectively, posing significant economic losses to growers and farm sustainability. Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) was previously a minor tree crop in California, but has become an important specialty crop, with planted area increased by 10-fold during the last twenty years, and is currently a $200 million annual industry. Pomegranate is not threatened so far by any pest or disease and is a drought- and salt-tolerant crop that can be cultivated on marginal land, which makes it an attractive alternative crop for the growers facing water and disease issues. For this investigation, two pomegranate field trials were initiated and followed over four years to evaluate site effects on establishment, precocity, photosynthesis and water relations to assist in determining appropriate cultivars for coastal versus inland climates. Traits measured included orchard establishment, photosynthesis, water potential, and flowering and yield traits. There were significant site and cultivar effects on many traits as well as site-cultivar interactions. The coastal trial grew significantly faster than the semi-arid inland site, however, the inland site was more productive than the coastal site for the first three years. Production during year four of establishment was similar at both sites.