The Pomegranate: a New Look at the Fruit of Paradise
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The Pomegranate: A New Look at the Fruit of Paradise Ed Stover1 USDA/ARS, National Clonal Germplasm Repository, One Shields Avenue, University of California, Davis, CA 95616 Eric W. Mercure Paramount Farming Company, Bakersfield, CA Additional index words. antioxidant, heterostyly, Punica granatum In this paper, a broad overview is pro- HISTORY OF CULTIVATION are reported to originate as ‘‘fruit of para- vided for the fruit known as the pomegranate dise,’’ which provides abundant demonstra- (Punica granatum). The pomegranate has a The pomegranate is widely considered tion of its appreciation in these cultures. In deep association with the cultures of the native in the region from Iran to northern India startling contrast, it was considered by the Mediterranean region and Near East, where (e.g., Morton, 1987), with apparently wild Greeks to be the ‘‘fruit of the dead’’ and it is savored as a delicacy and is an important plants in many forests of these areas. Others provided sustenance to the residents of Hades dietary component, revered in symbolism, (e.g., Mars, 2000) suggest that it is native to (Lansky et al., 2000). These two considera- and greatly appreciated for its medicinal the smaller area of Iran and vicinity, and was tions may demonstrate the amazing breadth properties. It is strange that a horticultural spread by human movement to a much broader of the pomegranate’s potential consumer icon of such importance has been largely area in prehistory. In India, the fruits of the base. The fruit’s unique flavors, with sweet- relegated to an ornamental role in the United wild pomegranate have thicker rinds and ness often counterbalanced by acidity, makes States and much of Europe. Recent trends extremely high acidity compared with culti- pomegranate easy to appreciate by most who indicate that the health-giving and flavor- vated types (Bist et al., 1994). They are also try it. In addition to their use as a fresh fruit filled properties of these fruits may soon reported to have much smaller arils (Kher, or fruit juice, the juice of the pomegranate reverse this oversight. 1999). In Central Asia, the primary difference also contributes distinctive character to many noted is the higher acidity in wild material mideastern dishes, such as the Iranian fes- TAXONOMIC ODDITY AND NAMING (Kerimov, 1934). The pomegranate’s origin senjan. As a practical contributor to the diet, in proximity to the ancient cultures of the these fruits were likely invaluable to early Botanically, the pomegranate (P. grana- Mediterranean have provided a long, recorded desert travelers as an easily carried, well- tum) is in the subclass Rosidae, order Myr- history for pomegranate. Indeed, some have protected form of water (Morton, 1987). tales, which is home to a few other fruits such argued that the pomegranate is the ‘‘apple’’ of In Zoroastrianism, the pomegranate sym- as the guava (Psidium sp.) and feijoa (Feijoa the biblical Garden of Eden, but this is bolizes both fecundity and immortality, and sp.). However, pomegranate is unusual in disputed in a recent review (McDonald, 2002). is an emblem of prosperity (Panthaky, 2006). being one of only two species in its genus, Pomegranate has been naturalized through- Pomegranate has long been associated with Punica, which is the sole genus in the family out the Mediterranean region (California love and was one of the symbols of the love Punicaceae (ITIS, 2006). Recent molecular Rare Fruit Growers, 1997). Edible pomegran- goddess Aphrodite (Encyclopedia Britann- studies suggest a taxonomic reconsideration ates were cultivated in Persia (Iran) by 3000 ica, 2006a). In the biblical Song of Songs, might place Punica within the Lythraceae BCE (Anarinco, 2006), and were also present Sheba ecstatically replies to Solomon’s blan- (Graham et al., 2005). The second species in in Jericho in modern-day Israel. By 2000 BCE, dishments: ‘‘Let us get up early to the vine- Punica, P. protopunica, is found only on the Phoenicians had established Mediterranean yards; let us see if the vine flourish, whether island of Socotra, of the Arabian Peninsula, and Sea colonies in North Africa, bringing pom- the tender grape appear, and the pomegran- is considered an ancestral species (Shilikina, egranates to modern-day Tunisia and Egypt. ates bud forth: there will I give thee my 1973) or an independent evolutionary path Around the same time, pomegranates become love.’’ Indeed Solomon describes Sheba as a (Kosenko, 1985). naturalized in western Turkey and Greece. garden whose ‘‘plants are an orchard of pome- The name Punica is the feminized Roman The pomegranate continued to be dis- granates’’ and says, ‘‘As a piece of a pome- name for Carthage, the ancient city in north- persed around the globe, reaching China by granate are thy temples within thy locks.’’ ern Tunisia from which the best pomegran- 100 BCE (Anarinco, 2006). By 800 CE, the fruit Sheba then says she wants Solomon to drink ates came to Italy. It was initially known as was spread throughout the Roman Empire, ‘‘the spiced wine of the juice of my pome- Malum punicum, the apple of Carthage. But including Spain. At the same time, it was granate.’’ Pretty potent stuff! Linneaus selected the current name, with the known to be extensively cultivated in Central It is easy to imagine that the seediness of specific epithet granatum, meaning seedy or and southern India (Morton, 1987). By the the pomegranate encouraged association with grainy. Its common name in the United early 1400s, the pomegranate had made its fertility. Perhaps this gave rise to the Greek States, therefore, means ‘‘seedy apple’’ way to Indonesia (Morton, 1987). In the myth in which Persephone must spend 6 (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2006c). While 1500s and 1600s, the Spanish introduced this months in the underworld after Hades forced considering naming, it is interesting to note species to Central America, Mexico, and her to eat six pomegranate seeds, but her re- that the fruit’s name in French, grenade, South America (LaRue, 1980). The first clear turn is celebrated with the coming of spring. provided the name for the weapon because evidence that the pomegranate was in the A bit more mysterious is the rationale for of similarities in appearance (Encyclopedia area to become the United States was in the Hebrew priests wearing vestments adorned Britannica, 2006b). early 1700s, when they were grown in with pomegranates (Exodus 28:31), or the Spanish Florida and English Georgia. By 480 BCE attempt by King Xerxes to capture 1770, the pomegranate made its way to the Greece with an army carrying spears adorned West Coast and was growing in the We acknowledge Matt Quist and Jason Haught, with pomegranates. Paramount Farming Company; Zeev Wiesman, missions of California (Morton, 1987; Seelig, Institutes for Applied Research, Ben Gurion Uni- 1970). versity of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel; Claudia HORTICULTURE Botti, Department of Agronomy, University of APPRECIATION AND SYMBOLISM Santiago, Chile; and Londhe Santosh Dinkar and The plant. The pomegranate plant inher- Dr. R.B. Sawant, College of Agriculture, Shivaji Both the Arabic name for pomegranate ently develops numerous trunks. In orchards, University, Kolhapur, India. (rumman) and the Hebrew name (rimmon) plants are normally trained to a single trunk, 1088 HORTSCIENCE VOL. 42(5) AUGUST 2007 forming a large shrub or small tree, and harvest ‘Wonderful’ when soluble solids The ‘Wonderful’ cultivar was discovered reaching a height of 12 to 20 ft at maturity. reach 15% (Morton, 1987). Minimum matu- in Florida and brought to California in 1896 Trees may be trained to multiple trunks in rity for ‘Wonderful’ in California is based on (California Rare Fruit Growers, 1997). This colder areas, to reduce risk of total tree loss. titratable acidity less than 1.85% and color is the primary cultivar of commerce in the Very dwarf pomegranates (such as ‘Nana’) darker than an established reference (Kader, United States. It is also grown in western are known with small plant, flower, and fruit 2006). In a Spanish study, soluble solids of Europe, Israel, and Chile (Sepulveda et al., sizes, and are widely used as ornamentals. the cultivars examined did not vary greatly 2000). ‘Wonderful’ is among the most deeply The pomegranate plant is more or less spiny from mid August through mid November, colored of pomegranates in both husk and and deciduous, with small, narrow, oblong and the principal acids were malic and citric juice, with a rich flavor, good juice yield, and leaves with short stems (Morton, 1987). (Legua et al., 2000). both sprightly acidity and slight thirst- Plants aggressively sucker from the crown Unlike most horticultural fruits, inherent quenching astringency similar to that of area and the roots. seed dispersal is not achieved through con- grapefruit juice and cranberries. Many pome- The flower. The pomegranate flowers are sumption of all or most of the fruit and seeds granate lovers consider it to be among the most commonly red to red–orange and are with accompanying spread. Rather, the best-tasting cultivars (Karp, 2006). ‘Wonder- funnel shaped, although ‘‘double’’ and varie- pomegranate fruit structure has apparently ful’ is nearly ideal for juicing, with excellent gated flowers are found in some ornamental evolved to ensure splitting of the leathery juice percentage as well as quality. It also has selections, which are not grown for fruit. husk, and exposure of the tempting arils and useful resistance to fruit cracking after rain- Pomegranate can be self-pollinated or cross- seeds (Morton, 1987) to the many happily fall on mature fruit (Karp, 2006). Other com- pollinated by insects (Morton, 1987). Flowers cooperative birds and so forth serving as mercial U.S. cultivars include ‘Granada’ (a are primarily borne subterminally, primarily dispersal agents. ‘Wonderful’ sport), ‘Early Wonderful’ (also on short lateral branches older than 1 year (El- a ‘Wonderful’ sport), and ‘Early Foothill’.