1st International Symposium on Pomegranate and Minor Mediterranean Fruits, Adana, Türkiye, 20 Mart 2009, cilt.818, ss.205-212
There are a lot of problems in pomegranate growing in Turkey, but fruit cracking is the main quality problem encountered. Fruit cracking is a physiological disorder that occurs because of the different growth rates between skin and flesh of fruit. This study attempts to decrease cracking of fruits of the 'Hicaz' and 'Silifke Asisi' pomegranate cultivars with various treatments applied over two years. For this purpose, various nutrient (boric acid, magnesium sulphate and potassium nitrate), gibberellic acid and pinolene treatments were applied in 1996 and 1997. These treatments were applied at two different times. The rates of fruit cracking were determined at harvest. Pomological analyses were conducted after harvest. The most effective treatment against fruit cracking was found to be gibberellic acid. It was observed that 150 and 200 mg l(-1) GA(3) delayed the maturation of fruits and abscission of leaves.