Correlation among Some Biochemical Compounds in Fruit, Leaf, and Shoot Bark of Pomegranate Trees for Breeding Programs

Abstract

This study was designed to compare biochemical characteristics in fruit, leaf and shoot bark among some Iranian pomegranate genotypes to determine for any probable correlation between different parts. Twenty genotypes were used in this experiment and biochemical characteristics such as vitamin C, anthocyanin, total phenolic content (TPC), titratable acidity (TA) and total soluble carbohydrate (TSC) were evaluated in leaf, arils, fruit peel, and shoot bark separately. Results of correlation analysis showed that there was significant correlation among anthocyanin, vitamin C, and TPC of arils with anthocyanin (r = 0.93), vitamin C (r = 0.90), and TPC (r = 0.95) of the leaf, respectively. Also, a positive correlation was observed between TA, vitamin C, anthocyanin, and TPC of arils with TSC of the shoot bark. Based on obtained results from this study, biochemical traits of the leaf such as anthocyanin, vitamin C and TPC can be used as a biochemical marker to determine superior genotypes in juvenile phase of plants.