Effects of Shading Nets on Yield, Quality, and Aril Paleness in Pomegranate Cultivars

Abstract

Pomegranate is one of the important horticultural products of South Khorasan province, Iran. Aril paleness is a physiological disorder that is affected by cultivar, genetics, weather conditions, radiation, nutrition, and changes in the population of endophyte fungi and bacteria. This research was carried out to investigate the effect of shading net on the quality and aril paleness of different pomegranate cultivars including ‘Shisheh-Kab’, ‘Malas Saveh’ and ‘Malas Yazdi’ in Iran. The treatments were shading net and control (without shading net). Application of green shading net increased fruit weight and anthocyanin content, while the antioxidant activity was higher in no shading nets fruits. The lowest antioxidant activity was obtained in cv. ‘Shisheh-Kab’. Fruit weight significantly increased in shading net fruits. Among evaluated cultivars, the highest fruit weight and anthocyanin accumulation were recorded in cv. ‘Malas Yazdi’ and cv. ‘Malas Saveh’, respectively. The higher fruit diameter (62.2mm) was obtained in shading nets with a significant difference compared with control (53.1mm). The highest total soluble solids (TSS) was obtained in shading nets fruit (14.1%), with a significant difference compared with no shading nets. However, there was no significant difference among cultivars in this regard. In conclusion, shading net increased yield and improved fruit quality of pomegranate cultivars and mitigated aril paleness disorder.