Important Diseases of Pomegranate Fruit and Control Possibilities in Turkey

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.), being not too selective in soil and climatic conditions, is very commonly cultivated in Turkey. In recent years, there is a great increase in the pomegranate cultivation area in the country. In this research, it is intended to find out the major diseases of pomegranate fruits and their control mechanisms in order to have a healthy and high quality yield. Surveys were held through the period starting from the blossoming stage up to the harvesting time. Throughout this time, research was conducted by isolations on sampling materials in order to detect pathogens causing flecking and rotting symptoms. (Alternaria alternata (Fri Fr) Keissl.), Coniella granati (Sarc.) Petr, Et Syd, and Aspergillus, niger yan Tieght were found as the major biotic diseases of the research. Fruit cracks, sunburn and hail damage were the most commonly detected abiotic diseases found in this study. Pathogens causing fruit-rots: C. granati and A. alternata and their control means were also studied in this research. Two different spray programs were tested against C. granati and A. alternata in the field trials.