A novel pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) variant with high anthocyanin content

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is an important tropical fruit crop consumed all over Asia in view of its health benefits such as cardiovascular health, strokes, anti-ageing and anti-cancerous properties as it contains many antioxidants including anthocyanins. In the present investigation, a novel somaclonal variant has been identified from an orchard having tissue cultured pomegranate plants of cultivar 'Bhagwa' at Korlakunte village, Challakere (Taluk), Karnataka. The identified variant had shown clearly visible differences compared to remaining plants of 'Bhagwa' in terms of leaf and fruit characteristics when it was characterized as per DUS guidelines for pomegranate. The leaf blade shape was lancolate as against elliptical lanceolate in 'Bhagwa'; leaf apex shape was obtuse in case of the variant compared to round shape in 'Bhagwa'. Further, the variant has exhibited prominent leaf veination. The fruit shape with visible neck. This variant fruit quality analysis for acidity, sugar content, ascorbic acid and anthocyanin content along with other pomegranate genotypes, suggested the significant differences for anthocyanin content (p<0.05). The identified variant recorded 310.49 mg of anthocyanins 100 mL(-1) of fresh juice which is twice as that of 'Bhagwa' (140.79 mg 100 mL(-1) of fresh juice) (AOAC official method 2005.02 at FSAQCL, CSIR-CFTRI, Mysuru). However, non-significant differences were observed for other quality parameters like acidity, ascorbic acid and sugar content among the genotypes.