Introduction to the Zaozhuang Soft-Seed Pomegranate (92-13) Variety

Origin: Native to Zhangwan Village, Qicun Town, Shizhong District, Zaozhuang City, selected in 1999 from soft-seed pomegranates.

Characteristics: The tree is relatively weak in vigor, with an open canopy, few thorns, and weak apical dominance, mostly forming a natural round-headed shape. The leaves are narrow and long, with small wavy patterns along the margins, sharp leaf tips, and slight recurving. The fruit is oblate, a medium-sized fruit, generally weighing 150-250 g per fruit, with large ones reaching 400 g; the fruit shape index is 1.03. The fruit surface is rough, with a yellow-green ground color, light pinkish-red stripes or blush on the sun-exposed side, and brown spots connected into patches. The calyx tube is short, with 6 calyx lobes, fully open, and the fruit ribs are distinctly prominent, with 4-5 ribs. The rind is thin, the number of locules is 7-9, and the seeds have extremely numerous radiating "needle-like" tips. The juice is relatively abundant and sweet in taste, with a soluble solids content of 13.5%. The seed is small and soft, fairly refreshing to eat, and the seeds are thick and uniform.