Performance of pomegranate (Punica granatum) cultivars under semi-arid condition of Haryana

The experiment was conducted at Department of Horticulture, CCS HAU, Hisar, to evaluate the growth performance of ten different pomegranates germplasm, viz Mridula, Bhagwa, Kandhari, Ganesh, Jodhpur Red, Jalore Seedless, Basein Seedless, Wonderful, S1 and S2 in semi-arid condition of Haryana, during 2018-19. Data revealed that maximum plant height (3.39 m) was observed in cv. Bhagwa and minimum (2.34) in S1. Plant spread was recorded maximum in cv. Bhagwa in the both direction (3.15 m E-W and 3.05 m N-S) and minimum in Mridula (2.05 m) in E-W direction and S1 (2.01m) in N-S direction. Majority of pomegranate varieties had spreading type of growth habit except Mridula and Bhagwa which had drooping type. Number of thorns was maximum (29) in Mridula and minimum (21) in Basein Seedless. Maximum leaf blade length and width was recorded in Mridula (8.30 cm and 2.82 cm) and minimum in Bhagwa (4.82 cm and 1.65 cm). Mridula, Bhagwa, Basein Seedless, Kandhari, Wonderful, S1 and S2 had lanceolate type of leaf blade shape, whereas Jodhpur Red, Ganesh and Jalore Seedless had broad elliptic type. Leaf petiole length was observed maximum (9 mm) in Kandhari and minimum (5.66 mm) in Jodhpur Red.