Effect of pruning and thinning on quality production of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) cv. Bhagwa

Abstract

The present study, titled “Effect of Pruning and Thinning on Quality Production of Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) Cv. Bhagwa,” was carried out during 2024-2025 in a six-year-old pomegranate orchard spaced at 4 × 3 m in the Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, Badnapur, Taluka Badnapur, District Jalna. The experiment followed a Randomized Block Design with seven treatments: T1 (20 cm pruning with thinning at flowering), T2 (20 cm pruning with thinning at fruiting), T3 (30 cm pruning with thinning at flowering), T4 (30 cm pruning with thinning at fruiting), T5 (40 cm pruning with thinning at flowering), T6 (40 cm pruning with thinning at fruiting), and T7 (control), each replicated three times. The objective was to identify the most suitable pruning and thinning combination for improving pomegranate fruit quality. Observations related to quality parameters were recorded accordingly. Different pruning and thinning levels had a significant effect on the fruit quality characteristics. Among the treatments, T4 (30 cm pruning with thinning at the fruiting stage) resulted in the highest average fruit weight (277.45 g), fruit volume (284.04 ml), and aril weight per fruit (141.93 g). Meanwhile, T6 (40 cm pruning with thinning at the fruiting stage) produced the highest total soluble solids (17.64%), reducing sugars (11.57%), non-reducing sugars (0.30%), and total sugars (12.88%), along with the lowest titratable acidity (0.32%).