GENETIC DIVERSITY OF JUJUBE (Ziziphus mauritiana) CULTIVARS

The present study was conducted on five jujube (Ziziphus mauritiana Lamk ) cultivars (Anokhi, Karela, Dill bahar, Ajooba and Dehli white) grown in two locations in Punjab, Pakistan during seasons 2014-2015 and 2015-2016. The aim of the study was to determine genetic diversity based on fruit properties fruit (weight, length, diameter), seed (weight, length, diameter), pulp weight, juice pH, total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acidity (TA), vitamin C, sugars (total, reducing, and non-reducing), antioxidant capacity and total phenolics. All cultivars significantly differed from each other in their fruit physico-chemical attributes. Dehli white cultivar had the highest fruit weight (22.90 g), fruit diameter (37.58 mm), pulp weight (16.83 g) and seed diameter (10.33 mm) than other cultivars. Dill bahar had the highest fruit length (43.75 mm), seed weight (2.69 g), juice pH (4.98), vitamin C content (55.86 mg/100 mL juice) and total phenolic contents (146.98 mu g GAE per mL). Anokhi had the highest seed length (26.13 mm), non-reducing sugars (37.81%), total sugars (47.23%) and antioxidant capacity (1016.8 mM trolox per 100 mL). In Bahawalpur and Faisalabad's environmental conditions Dehli white and Dill bahar cultivars were with better physical properties. However, according to biochemical properties Ajooba and Anokhi cultivars were better in Bahawalpur.