Pomegranate Fruit Health Benefits This is my first slide and I am going to use this to present myself and my research title. Image source: http://dailyapple.blogspot.com/2006/11/apple-207-days-of-november.html

Objectives To describe pomegranate fruit and plant cultivation. To analyze the antioxidant properties and nutritional values of the pomegranate fruit. In this slide I will mention the objectives of my research paper

Taxonomy Family:Lythraceae Genus:Punica Species:granatum Image source: http://www.ort.org.il/year/eshavuot/shav6.htm

Origin and Domestication 1769 1416 The pomegranate tree is native from Iran to the Himalayas in northern India. It has been cultivated since ancient times throughout the Mediterranean region of Asia, Africa and Europe. It traveled to central and southern India from Iran about the first century A.D. and was reported growing in Indonesia in 1416. It has been widely cultivated throughout India and drier parts of Southeast Asia and tropical Africa. The most important growing regions are Egypt, China, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Iran, Iraq, India, Burma and Saudi Arabia. It was first recorded in Bermuda in 1621. It is also cultivated in the Bahamas, West Indies and warm areas of South and Central America. In Mexico it is frequently planted, and it is sometimes found in gardens in Hawaii. The tree was introduced in California by Spanish settlers in 1769. It is grown for its fruit mostly in the dry zones of that state and Arizona.

Plant Structure The tree: Rounded shrub or small tree 12 to 16 ft. in height. Usually deciduous Stiff, angular branches, often spiny. Long-lived tree. Vigor declines after about 15 years. The tree: Rounded shrub or small tree typically to 12 to 16 ft. in height. Usually deciduous (in certain areas the leaves will persist on the tree) Stiff, angular branches, often spiny. Long-lived tree. There are specimens in Europe that are known to be over 200 years of age. Vigor declines after about 15 years.

Plant Structure Leaves and flowers: Glossy, leathery leaves that are narrow and lance-shaped. Flowers have a bright red color and 5 to 8 crumpled petals Red, fleshy, tubular calyx which persists on the fruit. Self-pollinated Cross-pollination (insects & wind) Blooms from early May to November Flowering from mid May to early June Leaves and flowers: Glossy, leathery leaves that are narrow and lance-shaped. Flowers have a bright red color and 5 to 8 crumpled petals Red, fleshy, tubular calyx which persists on the fruit. Self-pollinated as well as cross-pollinated by insects. Cross-pollination increases the fruit set. Wind pollination is insignificant. Blooms from early May to November, with most flowering from mid May to early June Images from: http://dqhall59.com/pomegranate-a.jpg

Plant Structure Fruit Round shaped (2-1/2 to 5 in.) Tough, leathery yellow/red skin or rind. Interior is separated by membranous walls and white, spongy, bitter tissue into compartments packed with sacs filled with sweetly acid, juicy, red, pink or whitish pulp or aril. Each sac have one angular, soft or hard seed. Round shaped (2-1/2 to 5 in.) Tough, leathery yellow/red skin or rind. Interior is separated by membranous walls and white, spongy, bitter tissue into compartments packed with sacs filled with sweetly acid, juicy, red, pink or whitish pulp or aril. Each sac have one angular, soft or hard seed. Images from: http://img.tfd.com/thumb/2/29/Pomegranate03_edit.jpg http://www1.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/2382984/2/istockphoto_2382984_pomegranate.jpg

Plant Culture Climate Mild-temperate to subtropical regions. Also adapted to regions with cool winters and hot summers. It can be severely injured by temperatures below 12º F (-11º C) The plant favors a semi-arid climate and is extremely drought -tolerant.

Plant Culture Soil Calcareous to deep loam pH: alkaline to acidic In northern India, it is spontaneous on rock gravel surfaces. Pomegranate can grow on calcareous, alkaline soil and on deep, acidic loam and a wide range of soils in between these extremes. In northern India, it is spontaneous on rock gravel surfaces.

Plant Culture Propagation Hardwood cuttings 10 to 20 in (25-50 cm) Most common Set in beds with 1 or 2 buds above the soil for 1 year before transplant. Grafting has never been successful. Seedlings lack uniformity. Air-layered branches and suckers from a parent plant can work too. Selected cultivars are usually reproduced by hardwood cuttings 10 to 20 in (25-50 cm) long to avoid seedling variation. Treatment with 50 ppm. indole-butyric acid and planting at a moisture level of 15.95% greatly enhances root development and survival. The cuttings are set in beds with 1 or 2 buds above the soil for 1 year, and then transplanted to the field. Grafting has never been successful but branches may be air-layered and suckers from a parent plant can be taken up and transplanted.

Plant Culture Planting 2 ft (60 cm) deep 12 to 18 ft (3.5-5.5 m) apart (depending on the fertility of the soil) Begin to bear 1 year after planting (2-1/2 to 3 years is more common) Good commercial production at 5 to 6 years. Pruning Initially, the plants are cut back to 24 to 30 in (60-75 cm) in height For the first 3 years, the branches shortened annually to encourage the max number of new shoots on all sides and achieve a strong well-framed plant. After the 3rd year, only suckers and dead branches are removed. Rooted cuttings or seedlings are set out in pre-fertilized pits 2 ft (60 cm) deep and wide and are spaced 12 to 18 ft (3.5-5.5 m) apart, depending on the fertility of the soil. Initially, the plants are cut back to 24 to 30 in (60-75 cm) in height and after they branch out the lower branches are pruned to provide a clear main stem. It is recommended that, for the first 3 years, cut the branches annually to encourage the maximum number of new shoots on all sides, and achieve a strong, well-framed plant. After the 3rd year, only suckers and dead branches are removed.

Plant Culture Harvesting The fruits ripen 6 to 7 months after flowering. In California maturity has been equated with 1.8% titratable acidity and 17% SSC Fruit cannot be ripened off the tree even with ethylene treatment. Clipped close to the base (stem can cause damage in handling and shipping) Too much sun exposure causes sunscald blemishes and roughening of the rind.

Food uses Can be consumed fresh. Juice is becoming a very popular beverage. Health benefits of pomegranate juice are becoming more widely known. Research currently being conducted on it. Images from: http://www.pomwonderful.com/fruit_info.html http://www.pomwonderful.com/juice.html

Health Claims Nutritional value Polyphenols Antioxidant Activity Antioxidant Health Benefits

Nutritional Values Table from: http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/pomegranate.html#Food%20Uses

Polyphenol Antioxidant Activity Antioxidants: scavengers that can neutralize free radicals prevent the cell and tissue damage linked to disease. Polyphenols are potent of the antioxidants. Other antioxidants tannins, punicalagin, anthocyanins (abundant in pomegranate juice) At least 10,000 unique polyphenols in the world. Polyphenols “many phenols”. carbon-based chemical structure that bound together form a polyphenol. Emerging science suggests that antioxidants are scavengers that can neutralize free radicals, which may help to prevent the cell and tissue damage that may be linked to disease. Among the most potent of the antioxidants, polyphenols, like tannins, particularly punicalagin and anthocyanins, are really plentiful in pomegranate juice. Polyphenols are a class of phytochemicals found in plants and there may be at least 10,000 unique polyphenols in the world. Polyphenols literally means “many phenols”. A phenol is a kind of molecule, a carbon-based chemical structure, and many of them bound together form a polyphenol.

Pomegranate Antioxidant Contents Both pomegranate pulp and peel contain many different kinds of antioxidants. Table Source: http://www.sciencedirect.com.ezproxy.tamu.edu:2048/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6T6R-4FW7R26-5&_user=952835&_coverDate=05%2F31%2F2006&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&view=c&_acct=C000049198&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=952835&md5=1b993feca41589eb38e2fe1b949b414a#SECX11

Pomegranate Juice Antioxidant Facts Graphs source: http://www.pomwonderful.com/importance_of_antiox.html http://www.pomwonderful.com/better_antiox.html

Antioxidant Health Benefits Lower risk or heart disease Slower cancer process Reduce severity of atherosclerosis Reduce risk of coronary heart disease Improve vascular system

Medicinal Purposes Uses in ancient Egypt civilization Uses in ancient Greek civilization Help digestion Relieve mouth and throat inflammation Table Source: http://www.sciencedirect.com.ezproxy.tamu.edu:2048/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6T6R-4FW7R26-5&_user=952835&_coverDate=05%2F31%2F2006&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&view=c&_acct=C000049198&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=952835&md5=1b993feca41589eb38e2fe1b949b414a#SECX11

Conclusion Pomegranate trees are very adaptable to many different environments