Research: A THERAPY TO PROTECT POMEGRANATE (Punica granatum L) FROM SUNBURN

The aim of this study was to reduce pomegranate losses due to sunburn in India. Summer temperatures may rise above 45 °C, resulting in sunburn damage to the fruits, which may inflict losses of up to 40% of the total yield. Data were obtained in two consecutive years. Surround WP, a product comprising processed, refined Terra Alba, was sprayed over the whole canopy and fruits four times at 2-3-week intervals from mid-June to early August, the first application at 5% and the other three at 2.5%. The resulting white coating significantly reduced fruit and leaf surface temperatures relative to the control by averages of 4.9 and 2.5 °C, respectively. Sunburn damage of fruits was reduced from 21.9% in untreated control to 9.4% in the Surround WP-treated fruits.