Seed germination biology of four pomegranate (Punica granatum) cultivars from Xinjiang, China

Pomegranate is an important fruit crop cultivated in many countries, and development of new cultivars depends on the plant breeders being able to produce plants from seeds. Poor quality and low yield of cultivars are widespread problems that greatly restrict development of the pomegranate industry. Our purpose was to gain a better understanding of the seed dormancy-breaking and germination requirements of four cultivars of pomegranate from Xinjiang Province, China, which would be useful in improving old cultivars and developing new ones. Fresh pomegranate seeds incubated on moist filter paper imbibed water, but they germinated to only 16% to 20%. Sulfuric acid scarification, cold stratification, and warm followed by cold stratification significantly increased germination percentages. Seeds soaked in concentrated H2SO4 for 40 minutes followed by cold stratification for 2 months germinated to 65%, and those warm stratified for 1–3 months followed by cold stratification for 2 months germinated to 75% to 80%. Seeds of pomegranate have nondeep physiological dormancy (PD).