Genetic Diversity of Iranian Jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.) Ecotypes from Isfahan Region based on Fruit Physiochemical Characteristics

Jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.) fruit is an important endemic and medicinal plant in Iran. Jujube fruits are rich of vitamin C and mineral nutrients. This study was undertaken to evaluate the fruit physiochemical characteristics (fruit length, fruit width, fruit weight, moisture percentage, flesh weight, flesh/stone ratio, stone weight, stone length, stone width, total acidity (TA), total soluble solids (TSS), ascorbic acid and flavonoid content). Therefore, twelve different ecotypes of jujube were collected from Isfahan region. The highest mean value of fruit length, fruit width, fruit weight, moisture percentage, flesh weight, flesh/stone ratio, stone weight, stone length and stone width were 32.36 mm, 21.68 mm, 7 g, 87.11%, 6.61 g, 19.15, 0.39 g, 18.46 mm and 7.45 mm, respectively. The highest level of total acidity content was observed in Mahabad ecotype with the value of 1.38 %; and the highest level of TSS content was observed in Poodeh ecotype with the value of 39.6%. In terms of ascorbic acid and flavonoids, the highest level of ascorbic acid content was measured in Zavvareh ecotype with the value of 403.62 mg/100g and the highest level of flavonoids content was measured in Ganje-ghobad ecotype with the value of 250.12 mg/g DW. The results of fruit physiochemical characteristics demonstrated that there are significant differences between ecotypes of different regions. This result was corroborated by cluster analysis. So it can be concluded that there is high physiochemical diversity in Iranian jujube ecotypes and it can be a rich source for breeding programs.