نوع مقاله : مقاله پژوهشی
نویسنده
استادیار، بخش تحقیقات علوم زراعی و باغی، مرکز تحقیقات و آموزش کشاورزی و منابع طبیعی بلوچستان، سازمان تحقیقات، آموزش و ترویج کشاورزی، ایرانشهر، ایران.
چکیده
کلیدواژهها
عنوان مقاله [English]
نویسنده [English]
The economic potential of ber production in southern part of Baluchestan in Iran necessitates investigations on the adaptability, performance, and quantitative and quality fruit characteristics of available ber genotypes to identify the superior genotype(s) for the development of this crop in the target areas. In the present study, six promising ber genotypes (B1001, B1002, B1003, B1004, B1005, and B1006) were evaluated using randomized complete block design with four replications in Bahukalat Tropical Fruit Research Station in Chabahar County, Iran, in 2016 and 2017. All six genotypes belong to Indian ber species (Ziziphus mauritiana) and were collected from Rask county in Sistan and Baluchestan province. Genotypes B1003 (120.64 kg tree-1) and B1004 (117.62 kg tree-1) produced the highest fruit yield, respectively. These two genotypes also had the highest fruit weights, respectively, and their fruit shapes were approximately round to spherical. Genotype B1004 had the highest vitamin C content. Based on the findings of this study, genotype B1003, considering its high fruit yield and desirable fruit quality, can be recommended for cultivation in southern Balochestan and other similar warm and humid regions of the southern provinces in Iran.
Keywords: Ber, morphological trait, fruit yield, fruit quality, total soluble solids.
Introduction
Ber (Ziziphus mauritiana Lam.), a member of the family Rhamnaceae, is widely distributed across diverse geographical and climatic conditions, resulting in considerable genetic and phenotypic diversity (Pareek and Sharma, 1991). Previous studies have demonstrated substantial variation among ber genotypes in fruit size, shape, yield, and physicochemical and nutritional characteristics, indicating considerable potential for selecting superior genotypes (Mirheidari et al., 2022; Kumar et al., 2024b). However, genotype performance may vary with environmental conditions, and genotypes that perform well in one region may not necessarily exhibit similar performance elsewhere.
In southern Iran, particularly in southern Balochestan, ber production is constrained by the predominance of small-fruited local genotypes, limited water availability, and insufficient access to improved germplasm. Although the region has considerable potential for ber cultivation, comparative information on the fruit morphological, fruit yield-related and fruit-quality characteristics of locally available genotypes remains limited. Therefore, identifying genotypes that combine desirable yield and fruit-quality attributes with adaptation to regional conditions is important for future cultivation and breeding programs.
The present study aimed to evaluate six ber genotypes using fruit morphological, fruit yield-related, and fruit quality characteristics under the environmental conditions of southern Balochestan and to identify superior suitable for cultivation in target areas.
Materials and Methods
This study was carried out to evaluate and quantitfy fruit morphological, yield-related, and quality traits of six promising ber genotypes of (Ziziphus mauritiana); B1001, B1002, B1003, B1004, B1005, and B1006, using randomized complete block design with four replications in Bahukalat Tropical Fruit Research Station in Chabahar county, Iran, in 2016 and 2017. Each replication consisted of three trees of each genotype planted at of 6 × 6 meters spacing arrangement.
The mean values of the three trees were used for statistical analysis. The vegetative phase of the research project was conducted from 2006 to 2011. To allow all trees to reach full bearing stage. The second phase of the research project was initiated after five-year intervals to evaluate reproductive traits, including fruit quantitative, yield-related, and fruit quality characteristics.
The evaluated fruit traits included fruit weight, fruit length, fruit diameter, fruit shape, stone weight, stone length and diameter, pulp percentage, total soluble solids (TSS), total acidity (TA), the TSS: TA ratio, vitamin C content, fruit moisture content, and ash content. The collected data were analyzed using SAS software, and mean comparisons were performed using Duncan’s multiple range test at the 1% probability level.
Results and Discussion
The highest yields were recorded in genotypes B1003 (120.64 kg tree-1) and B1004 (117.64 kg tree-1), respectively. Significant differences in fruit weight were observed among the evaluated ber genotypes. Genotype B1003 had the highest fruit weight (29.0 g), followed by B1004 (28.1 g). Genotype B1005 had the highest fruit moisture content (87.4%), which was statistically comparable to that of B1002 (86.42%) and B1003 (86.24%). Variation in fruit yield-related traits have also been reported by Kumar et al. (2024b).
Genotype B1001 had the highest TSS content and the lowest moisture content, whereas B1005, which had the highest moisture content, had the lowest TSS content. Pulp percentage exceeded 90% in all evaluated ber genotypes, the genotype B1002 had the lowest stone weight (0.74 g). Genotype B1006 had the highest total acidity, however vitamin C content ranged from 223 mg 100 g⁻¹ in B1001 to 406.9 mg 100 g⁻¹ in B1004. Singh and Misra (2011) also reported differences for quality traits in ber (Zizyphus mauritiana Lamk.) genotypes
Fruit weight was strongly and significantly and positively correlated with fruit yield (r = 0.86), fruit diameter (r = 0.98), stone weight (r = 0.88) and pulp percentage (r = 0.62). In contrast, fruit weight was significantly and negatively correlated with the fruit shape index (fruit length: diameter ratio) (r = -0.86).
The results of the present study revealed considerable variation among the six promising ber genotypes for fruit morphological, fruit yield, fruit quality traits. This variation indicates differences in the genetic potential of the studied ber genotypes and their responses to the environmental conditions of the region. Kumar et al. (2024b) have also reported similar diversity in fruit characteristics of ber (Zizyphus mauritiana Lamk.) genotypes.
References
Kumar, S., Sharma, J.R., Kumar, M., Singh, N. and Kumar, N. 2024b. Evaluation of ber genotypes grown under semi-arid conditions. Indian Journal of Horticulture, 81(4), pp.349-355. DOI: 10.58993/ijh/2024.81.4.4
Mirheidari, F., Khadivi, A., Saeidifar, A. and Moradi, Y. 2022. Selection of superior genotypes of Indian jujube (Ziziphus mauritiana Lamk.) as revealed by fruit-related traits. Food Science & Nutrition, 10(3), pp.903-913. DOI: 10.1002/fsn3.2721
Pareek, O.P. and Sharma S. 1991. Fruit trees for arid and semi-arid lands. Indian Farming, 41, pp. 25-33.
Singh, R. and Misra, K.K. 2011. Studies on physico-chemical characters of fruits of ber (Zizyphus mauritiana Lamk.) genotypes. Progressive Horticulture, 43(2), pp.248-251.
کلیدواژهها [English]
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