Abstract:
The accumulation of beneficial biochemical compounds in different parts of pomegranate ( Punica
granatum L.) fruit determines fruit quality and highly depends on environmental conditions. We
investigated the effects of agro-climatic conditions on major biochemical compounds and on the
expression of major anthocyanin biosynthetic genes in the peels and arils of a yellow-peeled and
pink-ariled pomegranate cultivar in three agro-climatologically different locations in Sri Lanka. Drier
and warmer climates promoted the accumulation of the measured biochemical compounds, i.e. total
phenolic content (TPC), antioxidant capacity (AOX), and α, β, and total punicalagin, in both peels and
arils compared to wetter and cooler climates. Pomegranate DFR, F3H, and ANS transcripts in both
peels and arils showed higher relative expression in hotter and drier regions, compared to those
grown in cooler and wetter conditions. Therefore, growing pomegranates in drier and warmer
environments maximizes the production of beneficial biochemical compounds and associated gene
expression in pomegranate fruit.
