Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41107741›Full record

ArticleBMC genomics2025

The pomegranate (Punica granatum L. cv. 'Wonderful') genome and P. protopunica shed light on pomegranate domestication. Is Daru a wild stock?

Alexandra Slonimsky, Oleg Lovky, Rotem Harel-Beja, Irit Bar-Ya'akov, Ravit Eshed, Amir Sherman, Doron Holland, Ron Ophir

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC genomics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Alexandra Slonimsky *Department of Fruit Trees Sciences, Institute of Plant Sciences, Agricultural Research Organization, Volcani Center, Rishon Lezion, Israel.
Oleg LovkyDepartment of Fruit Trees Sciences, Institute of Plant Sciences, Agricultural Research Organization, Volcani Center, Rishon Lezion, Israel.
Rotem Harel-BejaDepartment of Fruit Trees Sciences, Institute of Plant Sciences, Agricultural Research Organization, Newe Ya'ar Research Center, Ramat Yishai, Israel.
Irit Bar-Ya'akovDepartment of Fruit Trees Sciences, Institute of Plant Sciences, Agricultural Research Organization, Newe Ya'ar Research Center, Ramat Yishai, Israel.
Ravit EshedDepartment of Fruit Trees Sciences, Institute of Plant Sciences, Agricultural Research Organization, Volcani Center, Rishon Lezion, Israel.
Amir ShermanDepartment of Fruit Trees Sciences, Institute of Plant Sciences, Agricultural Research Organization, Volcani Center, Rishon Lezion, Israel.
Doron HollandDepartment of Fruit Trees Sciences, Institute of Plant Sciences, Agricultural Research Organization, Newe Ya'ar Research Center, Ramat Yishai, Israel.
Ron Ophir *Department of Fruit Trees Sciences, Institute of Plant Sciences, Agricultural Research Organization, Volcani Center, Rishon Lezion, Israel. ron@volcani.agri.gov.il.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe pomegranate is cultivated across a wide range of geographical regions worldwide for ornamental purposes, fruit aril for the food industry, and juice production. The pomegranate genome is reported to consist of 2n = 16 chromosomes in some cultivars and 2n = 18 in others. Clustering assembled contigs using Hi-C technology resulted in eight pseudochromosomes, alternatively, anchoring these contigs onto a genetic map produced nine pseudochromosomes. The origin of the domesticated pomegranate is unknown. Previous studies have suggested that the variant Daru, which is grown in the region of India and Nepal, is the origin of the wild stock.

resultsHere we explored the phylogeny, genetic structure, and substitution pattern of P. granatum. Phylogenetic analysis of Punica granatum accessions revealed that Daru seedlings constitute a distinct clade, which is a sister to the clade of Asian accessions, rather than an outgroup. No evidence of introgression was observed between Daru and cultivated accessions. Analysis of the non-synonymous to synonymous substitutions ratio in genic regions outlines a similar profile of the Daru and the domesticated pomegranates with overall positive selection, while the wild type P. protopunica illustrated a different profile with positive selection only in some regions. Domesticated pomegranate variants show low heterozygosity and nucleotide diversity, particularly on chromosome 1.

conclusionsOur findings suggest that differences in chromosome numbers may be associated with the formation of chromosome quadrivalents and their impact on the arrangement of contigs into pseudochromosomes. The profile of Kn to Ks ratio in domesticated pomegranates likely reflects positive selection. Genetic profiling of Daru, domesticated P. granatum, and wild-type P. protopunica revealed that Daru more closely resembles domesticated plants, challenging the notion that it represents the wild pomegranate.

Indexed as

DomesticationGenome, PlantLythraceaePomegranateGenetic VariationPhylogenyDomesticationGenome assemblyHi-CPositive selectionPunica granatum

Identifiers

PMID41107741
PMCPMC12535167

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.