Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is widely valued for its rich nutritional profile and distinctive sensory characteristics. As one of the oldest cultivated fruits, it has an extensive history of cultivation in China and possesses abundant germplasm resources. Nevertheless, systematic evaluation of these resources remains inadequate, limiting progress in germplasm innovation and utilization. In this study, we analyzed 16 fruit quality traits across 142 pomegranate accessions. Most traits showed wide phenotypic variation, with coefficients of variation (CVs) ranging from 2.10% to 108.83%. Notably, titratable acidity (TA) and anthocyanin content showed high variability (coefficient of variation, CV > 78%), while fruit shape index and total soluble solids (TSS) showed relatively low variability (CV < 10%). Cluster analysis delineated three distinct phenotypic groups. The first group comprised accessions characterized by large fruit size, thick peel, high acidity, and soft seeds. The second group exhibited high seed hardness, low acidity, and elevated sugar-acid and TSS–acid ratios. The third group displayed reduced levels of bioactive compounds such as tannins, phenols, and anthocyanins, combined with high seed hardness. Correlation analysis followed by principal component analysis (PCA) extracted six principal components, and based on comprehensive scoring, SXXA23, AHHB13, SD41, SXXA27, AHHB40, HS1, AHHB8, HY22, HN4, and AH27 were identified as priority accessions for further evaluation within this repository panel.
Cao et al. (Mon,) studied this question.