DEPENDENCE OF PRODUCTIVITY AND QUALITY OF POMEGRANATE CULTIVARS ON METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS IN DRY SUBTROPICS

The aim of the research is to quantify the dependence degree of the yield and sugar content, as the main productivity indicators for the introduced pomegranate cultivars, on the meteorological conditions during a year in the environmental conditions specific for the coastal lowland in Southern Dagestan. Long-term research was carried out in 2017–2021 using research programs and methods adopted in scientific institutions on horticulture. As the indicators describing the main climatic characteristics in the territory, we used data on air temperature and precipitation for 2010–2021 at the Derbent Meteorological Station. 6 introduced pomegranate cultivars were taken as the research object. Mathematical statistics together with modern procedures for calculating the simple pair correlation rates on the productivity deviation model for the introduced pomegranate cultivars were chosen as a tool for assessing the relationship between pomegranate cultivars’ productivity and meteorological conditions during a year. The results of correlation dependence of the introduced pomegranate cultivars’ productivity on the temperature conditions during cold season have revealed a positive relationship (r with the average temperature in November – February for the cultivars is close to 0.58). For the warm period, the correlation is generally weak everywhere and varies in grades from 0.29 to 0.40. We also note the maximum dependence of sugar content on temperature conditions in 2020 (0.59). The results of the conducted research can be used to replenish the gene pool of pomegranate in the conditions specific for dry subtropics of Southern Dagestan. According to the data on the long-term yield and sugar content in various pomegranate cultivars, the dependence of these indicators on the temperature and humidity conditions during a year and the location of the orchard has been investigated. Using various analysis methods, the paper has been quantified the influence of air temperature and precipitation in various months, as well as the warm and cold periods during a year as a whole on the interannual variability of the selected productivity indicators for the introduced pomegranate cultivars in connection with genetic collections replenishment.