Assessment of Ber Germplasm for Fruit Morphological Traits Under Semi-Arid Conditions

Year 2025, Volume: 11 Issue: 2, 68 - 76, 31.07.2025

Mukesh Kumar , Jeet Ram Sharma Hardeep Hardeep Deepak Sangwan

Abstract

A study on fruit morphological parameters of different ber germplasm was carried out at the Experimental Orchard, CCS
Haryana Agricultural University, Regional Research Station, Bawal (Rewari), Haryana during 2022-23 and 2023-24.
Sixteen selected germplasm of ber planted at 8 m × 8 m in randomized block design (RBD) in three replications were
characterized based on fruit morphological traits, including fruit colour, shape, fruit apex and base shape and pulp cavity at
styler and stem end. Among different ber germplasm, round fruit shape was noticed in five germplasm viz. Gola, Kakrola
Gola, Narendra Ber Sel-1, Narendra Ber Sel-2 and Katha Phal, while oblong fruit shape was observed in 6 germplasm
viz. Umran, Kaithali, Rohtak Safeda, Bawal Sel-1, Bawal Sel-2 and Mudia Murhara. The germplasm Chhuhara and
Thar Sevika had ovate fruit shape. Further, oval fruit shape was noticed in two germplasm viz. Goma Kriti and Thar
Bhubraj, while oblate fruit shape was noticed in only one germplasm i.e. Illaichi. At fruit maturity, Katha Phal exhibited
anthocyanin blush on fruit skin while remaining germplasm does not exhibit anthocyanin blush. The round fruit apex
was noticed in 10 germplasm, while it was pointed in 4 germplasm and 2 germplasm had flat fruit apex. The varieties
were systematically classified into five distinct groups based on stone shape, viz. oblong, spindle, club, oval and falcate.
The significant variability observed in morphological traits among the germplasm likely represents the genetic diversity
inherited from the ancestral species from which these cultivars originated.

Keywords

Ber (Ziziphus mauritiana Lamk.) , germplasm , DUS , fruit morphology

References

• Anonymous, (2016). Guidelines of PPV&FRA for the conduct of test for distinctiveness, uniformity and stability on Indian jujube (ber) (Ziziphus mauritiana Lamk.). Plant Variety Journal of India,10(2).
• Azam-Ali S, Bonkoungou E and Bowe C, (2006). Breeding. In: Ber and Other Jujubes, 289. deKock C, Godara A, Williams J T (Eds). International Centre for Underutilized Crops, Southampton, UK.
• Bal JS, (1992). Identification of ber (Ziziphus mauritiana Lamk.) cultivars through vegetative and fruit characters. Acta Horticulturae, 317: 245–53.
• Bioversity International, (2007). Guidelines for the development of crop descriptor lists. Bioversity Technical Bulletin Series, Bioversity International, Rome, Italy, XII 72 p.
• Godi NF and Joshi VR, (2016). Studies on biochemical and organoleptic characters of different ber (Ziziphus mauritiana Lamk.) genotypes. Advances in Life Sciences, 5(6):2389-2393.
• Godi NF, Joshi VR and Supe VS, (2016). Physical fruit characteristics assessment of selected ber (Ziziphus mauritiana Lamk.) genotypes. International Journal of Applied Research, 2(2):757-761.
• Hu SY, Wen JB, Satar A and Tian CM, (2010). Research progress of quarantine pest Carpomyia vesuviana. Scientia Silvae Sinica, 46(7):147-154.
• Islam MB and Simmons MP, (2006) A thorny dilemma: testing alternative intrageneric classifications within Ziziphus (Rhamnaceae). Systematic Botany, 31(4):826-842.
• Krishna H, Bhargava R, Chauhan N and Sharma SK, (2016). Morphological descriptor for DUS testing of Indian jujube (Ziziphus mauritiana). Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 86(6):809-814.
• Kumar M, Arya RK, Kumar M, Gaur RK and Sharma S, (2021). Evaluation of Aonla varieties under semi-arid conditions of Haryana. Ekin Journal of Crop Breeding and Genetics, 7(2):139-144.
• Kumari S, Bhat DJ, Wali VK, Bakshi P and Kumar R, (2016). Studies on vegetative growth and floral biology of Ziziphus mauritiana germplasm under rainfed conditions of Jammu, India. Ecology
• Environment and Conservation, 22(2):641-646. Liu P, Liu MJ, Zhao ZH, Liu XY, Wang JR and Yan C, (2009). Investigation on the characteristics of fruiting and seed development in Chinese jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.). Acta Horticulturae, 840: 209-214.
• Saran PL, Godara AK and Sehrawat SK, (2006). Characterization of ber (Ziziphus mauritiana Lamk.) genotypes. Haryana Journal of Horticultural Sciences, 35:215-18.
• Singh OV, Singh K, Gowthami R and Shekhawat N, (2019). Morphological characterization of ber germplasm. Indian Journal of Horticulture, 76(2): 219-225.
• Srinivasan VK, (1952). Chromosome number in the genus Ziziphus. Current Science, 21:224.
• Vashishtha BB, (2001). Ber varieties: A monograph. Agrobios (India), Agro House, Behind Nasrani Cinema, Chopasani Road, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India. p. 97.
• Vavilov NI, (1951). The origin, variation, immunity and breeding of cultivated plants. Soil Science, 72(6): 482.
• Yadav J, Gaur RK, Kumar Y, Kumari N, Yadav SS, Khan M and Yadav S, (2020). Evaluation of anti xenotic and allelochemical traits of ber (Ziziphus mauritiana Lamk.) fruits as a source of host plant resistance against fruit fly (Carpomyia vesuviana Costa) (Diptera: Tephritidae) in semi-arid region of India. Phytoparasitica, 48:607-620.