HEAT REQUIREMENT OF POMEGRANATE FRUIT: A CASE STUDY ON SHISHE-KAB CULTIVAR

The aim of this study was to determine growing degree day (GDD) for pomegranate fruit Shishe-Kab cultivar and study the phonological stages of fruit from bloom to harvest. A completely randomized block design was carried out on the research orchard of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Birjand, 2017. During the May to October, the diameter and length of the fruits and calyx were recorded using the non-destructive method by a digital caliper on the tree. Next fruit samples were randomly taken from the trees to determine fresh and dry weight. Furthermore, by using the metrological data, the thermal requirement based on the growth degree day (GDD) has been determined from April until harvest day. The effective heat requirement for Shishe-Kab cultivar that was calculated from blooming to reach maturity was 2560.95. The highest cumulative temperature was recorded in the commercial harvest date. By receiving this degree day, fruit reached the highest fresh and dry weight, length and also diameter at the end of growing season. The results indicated that all fruit characteristics significantly increased from the first recording day till the end, except the ratio of fruit length to diameter. A slight decrease in growth rate was presented in fruit diameter and length, which was concomitant with their seed hardening. Results showed that calyx diameter and length of pomegranate fruit has a slow continues liner growth pattern, fruit length and diameter exhibited a double sigmoid growth curve, while the fresh and dry weight followed a single sigmoidal curve. By determining the fruit growth pattern under climatic conditions, it is possible to determine the length of growing season and the critical stages of growth for proper management in the garden.