Comparative Responses of Three Pomegranates (Punica Granatum L.) Varieties to Salinity

Abstract

During 2011 and 2012 seasons, three pomegranate cultivars Manfalouty, Wonderfull and Nab–Elgamal. were subjected to saline ground water at concentration (1.8 and 6.0 dSm-1). The trees about seven years old grown at 2.5 x 3.5 m apart in sandy clay loam soil under Sohag environmental conditions. Results revealed that irrigation with saline water (6dSm-1), increased salt accumulation in leaves. On the other hand the higher significant reduction was observed in growth; flowering and yield with highly fruit cracking in relative to 1.8 dSm-1. Total Sugar and acidity percentages did not alter significantly with varying Saline irrigation. The studied varieties were affected differently by salt-stress, Manfalouty, Wonderfull, and Nab-Elgamal in descending order in response to salinity. Keywords: Salinity, Pomegranate, Saline ground water, Salt-stress, Vegetative growth characteristics.