Preface   Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is one of the ancient fruits associated with several human cultures of the world. Its nutritional, therapeutic and ornamental values were known to humans since antiquity. Although pomegranate is an ancient fruit plant, it has gained commercial significance recently. Now-a-days there is increasing worldwide demand for this fruit owing to its superior pharmacological and therapeutic properties. Since the pomegranate tree is highly adaptive to a wide range of climate and soil conditions, it is grown in different tropical and subtropical regions. India is one of the largest producers of pomegranate in the world. During 2013-2014, pomegranate was cultivated over 1.31 lakh ha with an annual production of 13.46 lakh tonnes and productivity of 10.27 tonnes/ ha. At present, Maharashtra is the leading state in acreage covering about 68.80 per cent of the area under pomegranate. Similarly around 70.22 per cent of total production comes from Maharashtra. The other important states are Karnataka, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Madhya Pradesh. India is the only country in the world where pomegranate is available throughout the year. In the present text, proven technologies and procedure for export have largely been compiled for the end-users. The book has six broad chapters, with major focus on production technology, integrated disease and insect pest management(IDIPM), post harvest management and procedure for export of pomegranate. For the manuscript the information has been gathered from print as well as electronic media with due acknowledgement. I hope that the information contained in this publication will benefit the pomegranate growers, researchers, students, extension workers, processors, exporters, various developmental agencies and other stake holders involved in the promotion of the pomegranate industry in India. The book has been compiled on the basis of available information for guidance and not for legal purposes. Readers are also advised to consult the latest recommendation for pesticides/herbicides before its use. However, I have put my best efforts in preparing this manuscript, but if any error or whatsoever has been skipped out, please accept our apologies and will by heart welcome your suggestions.

1.1 Introduction Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is a well-known table fruit of tropical and subtropical regions of the world. The Romans received it from Carthage, hence the name of the genus Punica. Some botanists place it in the family Lythraceae, of the peculiar type of fruit, called as balausta, most authorities make it the only genus in the family Punicaceae. It belongs to genera Punica and family Punicaceae (Chatterjee & Randhawa, 1952; Joshi, 1956). It is a small tree, measuring less than 4 m when cultivated, although it can reach 7 m in the wild. Recent research findings corroborate traditional use of pomegranate as a medical remedy as all parts of this plant have several bioactive metabolites (Holland et al. 2009). Consequently, its demand has increased tremendously not only in the western world but also in other parts of the globe.

2.1 Soil and Climate Pomegranate grows well in sandy-loam and well-drained soils having a pH of 7.5. It can also be grown on light soils. Quality and colour development in light soils is good but poor in heavy soils. It tolerates salinity up to 9.00 EC/mm and sodicity 6.78 ESP. Even it can be grown well in slightly saline soils as it is considered a saline-tolerant plant (Patil and Waghmare 1983; Rao and Khandelwal 2001; Ram Asrey et al., 2002). Accumulation of salts, in excess of 0.5% of the soil mass causes dying off of growing roots. Interestingly, application of Paclobutrazol (250 ppm) was reported to reduce salinity damage (Saeed 2005). The presence of water-soluble salts like sulphates and chlorides and ex- changeable sodium negatively affect root formation.

3.1 Integrated Insect Pests Management 1. Anar butterfly [Deudorix (Virachola) isocrates Fabricus] Pomegranate fruit borer or pomegranate butterfly is the most widespread, polyphagous and destructive pest distributed all over India and common in Asia. Peak incidence is during the month of August in monsoon season, while it is more during November/December in winter crop. Infestation from flowering to button stage causing loss up to 50 per cent of the fruit. Adult bluish brown butterfly, female with V shaped patch on forewing. Full-grown larvae are dark brown with short hair and white patches all over the body and measures about 16 to 20mm long. The larvae bore into the pomegranate fruits soon after hatching. Once inside the fruit, larvae (approx 2cm length) feed on the flesh and seeds.  The bored hole is plugged by the last abdominal segment of the larva. When fully grown, the larva comes out by boring through the hard shell and spins a web, which ties the fruit, stalk to the main branch. Offensive smell and excreta of caterpillars coming out of the entry holes with excreta stuck around the holes. The fruits rot and drop off. The holes ultimately expose the rest of the fruit to disease, and typically rot off the tree.

4.1 Harvesting Pomegranate being non-climacteric fruits should be picked when fully ripe. Its fruits become ready for picking 120-130 days after fruit set. Mature fruits should be immediately removed from the plants as delay in harvesting leads to fruit cracking. Fruits harvested at a premature stage have poor keeping quality and are prone to damage during handling and transport. The fruits are harvested when outer rind becomes yellowish and the fruit when tapped produces a metallic sound. The round fruits become flattened from all the sides and basal beak shaped portion shrinks at the time of maturity. Fruits are harvested with the help of secateurs by retaining 1 cm stalk with the fruit. All the fruits should be harvested in 2-3 pickings within a span of one month.

5.1 Present Status Export of pomegranate has decreased in quantity from 36,027.43 tons in 2012-13 to 20,997.02 tons in 2014-15, whereas in value term it show an increase trend during the same period. There is tremendous potential for exports of pomegranate from India and it is fact that India is largest producer of pomegranates in the world. Moreover, India produces finest edible quality of pomegranates which are available almost throughout the year. The major Markets of India’s pomegranate during the year 2014-15 were UAE, Nepal, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Netherland.

6.1 Strength of India     ·    In India, pomegranate is cultivated over 1.31 lakh ha with a production of 13.46 lakh tonnes and a productivity of 10.27 t/ha.      ·    India is the largest producer of pomegranates in the world.     ·    Pomegranate is currently ranked 10th in terms of fruit consumed annually in the world. India is the only country in the world where pomegranate is available throughout the year i.e. From January to December. It is cultivated in 3 seasons (Ambia bahar, Mrig bahar and hasth bahar) in Deccan plateau of India.      ·    India is endowed with wide agro climatic conditions that offer immense scope for cultivation of various kinds of fruit crops. This provides an excellent platform for the country to emerge as a leading producer of fruit crop. 

Appendix-A List of Pomegranate Exporters from India