Unravelling the molecular mechanisms of abscisic acid-mediated drought-stress alleviation in pomegranate (Punica granatum L.)

AbstractPomegranate (Punica granatum L.) with an uncertain taxonomic status has an ancient cultivation history, and has become an emerging fruit due to its attractive features such as the bright red appearance and the high abundance of medicinally valuable ellagitannin-based compounds in its peel and aril. However, the absence of genomic resources has restricted further elucidating genetics and evolution of these interesting traits. Here we report a 274-Mb high-quality draft pomegranate genome sequence, which covers approximately 81.5% of the estimated 336 Mb genome, consists of 2,177 scaffolds with an N50 size of 1.7 Mb, and contains 30,903 genes. Phylogenomic analysis supported that pomegranate belongs to the Lythraceae family rather than the monogeneric Punicaceae family, and comparative analyses showed that pomegranate and Eucalyptus grandis shares the paleotetraploidy event. Integrated genomic and transcriptomic analyses provided insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the biosynthesis of ellagitannin-based compounds, the color formation in both peels and arils during pomegranate fruit development, and the unique ovule development processes that are characteristic of pomegranate. This genome sequence represents the first reference in Lythraceae, providing an important resource to expand our understanding of some unique biological processes and to facilitate both comparative biology studies and crop breeding.

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Determination of Fruit Cracking Rates in Some Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) Genotypes Growed Non-Irrigated Conditions

Turkish Journal of Agriculture - Food Science and Technology ◽

10.24925/turjaf.v9isp.2635-2640.4862 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 9 (sp) ◽

pp. 2635-2640

Author(s):

Emine Açar ◽

Melike Cengiz ◽

Yıldız Aka Kaçar ◽

Ahsen Işık Özgüven

Keyword(s):

Drought Stress ◽

Punica Granatum ◽

Stress Factors ◽

Soluble Solids ◽

Economic Losses ◽

Subtropical Climate ◽

Resistance Level ◽

Fruit Cracking ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Punica Granatum L

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is a tropical and subtropical climate plant with high economic value and nutritional content. Having valuable phytochemicals in terms of health caused an increase in demand for pomegranate consumption and this situation accelerated pomegranate production. However, global warming and climate changes are among the factors limiting the production of pomegranate. Especially abiotic stress factors caused by adverse ecological conditions cause significant economic losses in pomegranate production. Drought stress, which is one of these negativities, causes fruit cracking problem, which is one of the important problems in pomegranate production. Minimizing the fruit cracking problem, which causes economic losses, is possible by breeding varieties that are resistant to under non-irrigated conditions. Determining the resistance of the cultivars to be used in breeding programs against fruit cracking will allow the development of elite cultivars. For this purpose, it was aimed to determine the fruit cracking rates of 30 different pomegranate genotypes in the Pomegranate Genetic Collection of Çukurova University, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Horticulture, under non-irrigated conditions. A correlation was made between the cracking rates of the genotypes and the amount of soluble solids content (SSC). According to the correlation analysis between the cultivars, there is no statistically significant difference between the SSC and the cracking rate. However, a weak negative correlation was determined between SSC-cracking rate (-0,1132). In the light of the pomological data obtained, it was determined that 8 pomegranate genotypes grown under non-irrigated conditions had a fruit cracking rate of 40 % - 85 %, cracking rates were below 10 % in 8 pomegranate genotypes and no fruit cracking was observed in 6 genotypes. As a result of the analysis, it was observed that drought stress was effective on the fruit cracking rate or the exacerbation of the fruit cracking rate, but the resistance level of some genotypes against the fruit cracking problem was high.

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PHYTOCHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS, ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY AND ACUTE ORAL TOXICITY OF POMEGRANATE (PUNICA GRANATUM L.) FRUIT PEEL EXTRACT

Journal of Medicine and Pharmacy ◽

10.34071/jmp.2019.4.1 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 7-14

Author(s):

Hai Trieu Ly ◽

Tuan Anh Vo ◽

Viet Hong Phong Nguyen ◽

Thi My Sa Pham ◽

Bich Thao Lam ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Antioxidant Activity ◽

Gallic Acid ◽

Radical Scavenging ◽

Dry Weight ◽

Punica Granatum ◽

Acute Oral Toxicity ◽

Oral Toxicity ◽

Fruit Peel ◽

Total Polyphenol ◽

Punica Granatum L

Background: The natural antioxidants have an important role in the prevention of many diseases. The aim of study is to investigate phytochemical components, antioxidant activity and acute oral toxicity of Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) fruit peel (PFP) extract. Materials and methods: Phytochemicals of PFP were determined by qualitative chemical tests, thin layer chromatography, total polyphenol and flavonoid contents. The PFP extract was evaluated for antioxidant activity by DPPH assay and MDA assay. In vivo acute oral toxicity test was conducted using Karber-Behrens method to determine LD50. Results: Results illustrated that PFP mainly contains flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins, triterpenes, saponins, and coumarins. PFP extract exhibited the total polyphenol and flavonoid contents with 189.97 mg gallic acid equivalent/g dry weight and 9.42 mg quercetin equivalent/g dry weight, respectively. The DPPH free radical scavenging and anti-lipid peroxidation activities of PFP extract were expressed with IC50 value of 4.80 μg/mL and 0.38 μg/ mL, sequentially. Simultaneously, the Dmax (the maximum dose administered to mice that no toxicity was observed) of PFP extract was determined to be 21.28 g/kg, equivalent to 35.64 g dried herb. Conclusion: The PFP extract is relatively safe and revealed high antioxidant activity. Key words: Punica granatum L.; polyphenols; flavonoids; gallic acid; quercetin; antioxidant activity; acute oral toxicity

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