Adaptation to global warming-induced climatological changes, limited water resources and water restrictions for agriculture during drought requires producers to invest in crops matched to the potential future climate, such as drought-tolerant pomegranate trees. For effective application of water saving irrigation management strategies in orchards, knowledge of tree shoot and fruit growth patterns and plant response to water deficits is essential. The review focuses on the effects of water deficits on pomegranate tree physiology, phenology, vegetative growth, fruit growth, yield and fruit and product quality. Mild and severe water deficits in pomegranate trees could decrease stomatal conductance by between 19% to 36% and 53% to 77%, respectively, relative to well-watered trees. Water deficits decreased vegetative growth and fruit growth rate and if applied over several seasons can decrease long term orchard productivity. Mild water deficits during flowering and fruit set can in some cases limit shoot growth without significantly reducing yield. Maximum relative yield was achieved where between 721 and 953 mm evapotranspiration occurred. Relative yield for selected cultivars decreased by 24%, 34% and 45% if seasonal minimum midday stem water potential decreased by −0.5, −1 and −1.8 MPa relative to that of well-watered trees. For selected cultivars the total soluble solids in fruit juice increased as seasonal minimum midday stem water potential decreased. With regard to fruit skin and juice colour and bioactive compounds, deficit irrigation studies produced conflicting results. Differences in pomegranate tree physiological, growth and yield responses to water deficits may be attributed to diverse cultivar drought tolerance, crop load, climatic conditions, irrigation water quality, soil water management practices and the resultant soil water availability. A soil-plant-atmosphere-continuum approach to research could aid in better understanding of the tree response to water deficits and supply fundamental knowledge to formulate appropriate irrigation strategies to achieve optimal water use productivity.

为了适应全球变暖引起的气候变化，水资源有限以及干旱期间农业用水受限，生产者必须投资与潜在的未来气候相匹配的农作物，例如耐旱的石榴树。为了在果园中有效应用节水灌溉管理策略，必须了解树木的芽和果实的生长方式以及植物对缺水的反应。审查的重点是缺水对石榴树生理，物候，营养生长，果实生长，产量以及果实和产品质量的影响。相对于灌溉良好的树木，石榴树中的轻度和严重缺水现象可能会使气孔导度分别降低19％至36％和53％至77％。水分亏缺会降低植物生长和果实的生长速度，如果在多个季节施用，则会降低果园的长期生产力。在开花和坐果期间轻度的水分亏缺在某些情况下会限制芽的生长，而不会明显降低产量。在721和953 mm蒸散量之间达到最大相对产量。如果季节性最低的中午茎水势相对于灌溉良好的树种而言降低了-0.5，-1和-1.8 MPa，那么选定品种的相对产量将分别降低24％，34％和45％。对于选定的品种，随着季节最低中午茎水势的降低，果汁中的总可溶性固形物增加。关于果皮，果汁颜色和生物活性化合物，缺乏灌溉研究产生了矛盾的结果。石榴树对水分亏缺的生理，生长和产量响应的差异可能归因于不同的品种耐旱性，作物负荷，气候条件，灌溉水质量，土壤水管理实践以及由此产生的土壤水可利用性。土壤－植物－大气－连续体研究方法可以帮助人们更好地理解树木对缺水的反应，并提供基本知识以制定适当的灌溉策略，以实现最佳的用水效率。