Effects of various applications on the earliness, yield, and quality of 'Hicaznar' (Punica granatum L.) varieties grown in Antalya conditions

This study was conducted in an indoor garden with an 11-year-old "Hicaznar" variety in the Serik district of Antalya province to determine the effects of various applications on yield, quality, and earliness of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) in 2021. The study was created in a randomized plot design with three replications and 3 trees in each replication, using 9 trees for a total of one application. In the study, two different doses (2.5% and 5%) of calcium (Ca), kaolin (4% dose) application in two different periods (30 June and 15 July) and three different colors (white, black, gray) of plastic mulch applications were used to determine their individual and combined effects on earliness, fruit yield and quality were investigated. Beginning with the applied pomegranate trees' flashing period, phenological observations were made every two weeks till dormancy. Phenological observations were started on March 12, 2021. They were used to determine the time of vegetative buds' emergence, the time of flower buds' emergence, the beginning of inlorecence, timing of full bloom, the end of flowering, the time of fruit harvest, the time of leaf yellowing, and the time of defoliation. According to the applications, the fruits that were harvested were subjected to biological examinations (yield per tree, number of fruits per tree, rates of cracking and sunburn) as well as pomological measurements (fruit volume, width, length, height, weight, 100 aril weight, fruit skin ratio, aril yield, aril, and fruit skin color). Chemical analyses of the juice derived from fruit samples (titratable acidity; TEA; Brix;; pH; total phenolic substance content; TFM; total anthocyanin amount; TA and antioxidant activity; AA) were conducted. The results showed that the first blooming dates were 3 days earlier in trees with black plastic mulch than that found in trees in the control group while trees with white and gray plastic mulches bloomed 3 days later than that of the control group. The last day of blooming was same (13.08.2021) in the control plants and plant with black plastic mulch. It was observed 15 days later (28.08.2021) on trees in gray and white plastic mulches. The mulch applications and the control group did not differ in terms of flashing buds, the beginning of inflorescence full blooming, yellowing, or defoliation dates. This is believed to be a result of the mulch materials' application date (12.03.2021) being postponed. For this reason, it can be advised to apply plastic mulch between the second half of December and the end of January so that its effects on earliness can be more clearly recognized, both in similar research to be conducted and the farmers cultivating pomegranate. According to the study's findings; average fruit number (88.67 numbers/tree) of 2.5% Ca + white colored mulch, average yield, kaolin 2 (49.40 kg/tree), fruit cracking rate of 5% Ca + gray colored plastic mulch (3.00%) and in terms of sunburn rate 2.5% Ca + black plastic mulch (8.62%) applications gave the best results. The application of 2.5% Ca in fruit weight (615.64 g), fruit volume (639.63 ml), and total number weight (287.75 g) produced the greatest results in pomological measurements. The highest fruit peel rate (49.35%), fruit yield (50.42%), and juice output (42.82%) were obtained when black colored plastic mulch was applied. According to measures of fruit color, the 2.5% Ca+grey colored plastic mulch treatment produced the highest L* value (58.36) in the peel, the kaolin 2+white colored plastic mulch application produced the highest a* value (39.06), and the control group produced the highest b* value (28.08). The highest L* value (28.28) in fruit was obtained from black colored plastic mulch, the highest a* value (25.44) obtained from kaolin 2 + black colored plastic mulch (25.44) and the highest b* value (15.16) obtained from kaolin 2 + gray colored plastic mulch applications. The best result in chemical analysis of fruit juice, Kaolin 2 + black plastic mulch in the amount of SÇKM (17.10%), TEA amount (0.20%) 5% Ca + black plastic mulch, 5% Ca in the amount of TFM (1.46 g/L), Gray colored plastic mulch in the amount of TA (297.40 mg cyanidin-3-glycoside /L) determined from the applications. According to the research, the use of Ca treatments (2.5% and 5%), both alone and in combination with gray and black plastic mulch, has a substantial impact on pomegranate fruit cracking. In addition, it has been observed that separate kaolin 1 and 2.5% Ca applications and the use of 2.5% Ca application together with black, white and gray colored plastic mulch applied trees are effective in reducing the rate of sunburn. When the results are evaluated in general; Since it has been determined that individual black plastic mulch application and 2.5% Ca application positively affect fruit yield and quality values, their use in pomegranate cultivation is recommendedç