Characterization of fruit traits from ‘Mollar de Elche’ pomegranate progenies

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is, since ancient times, one of the most appreciated fruits in the world for its nutricional and medicinal properties. Southeastern Spain is one of the most important pomegranate producing and exporting regions in the Mediterranean Basin. The cultivar-populations most frequently grown in this area are LSQUOMollar de ElcheRSQUO and LSQUOValencianaRSQUO, whose yellowish-pink fruit are adapted to local consumersRSQUO demand due to their sweet and soft seeds. In the past, pomegranates were selected according to local market demands, but recently the increase of exports has resulted in new markets and consumersRSQUO demands in which pomegrante is considered a functional food, hence new breeding requirements should be taken into account. Hybridizations between LSQUOMollar de ElcheRSQUO and redder foreign cultivars such as LSQUOWondefulRSQUO were carried out in order to obtain new cultivars with darker skin and higher antioxidant content, while keeping soft seeds. Crossbred progenies are being analysed for further selection in experimental orchards. The results obtained thus far showed a wide range of variability among accessions in soluble solids (12.9-18.1), titratable acidity (0.29-1.91% citric acid), pH (2.7-4.1), juice content (17.1-39.4%) and skin and juice color. Antioxidant activity (measured as DPPH free radical-scavenging method), total polyphenol content and anthocyanins (HPLC) analyses were conducted in 12 genotypes. In these samples, hard-seeded nature and red aril color traits are dominant to soft-seeded and pale aril color.