Selection of superior genotypes of Indian jujube (Ziziphus mauritiana Lamk.) as revealed by fruit-related traits

Association between quantitative morphological traits and RAPD molecular markers in pomegranate (Punica granatum L.)

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is very important in terms of horticulture and food around the world. The present research aimed to identify the random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers associated with morphological traits in pomegranate genotypes. Significant differences were observed among the studied genotypes based on the recorded traits. The 18 RAPD primers produced a total of 154 polymorphic fragments among genotypes. Using multiple regression analysis between each of the morphological traits and 154 RAPD polymorphic bands, RAPD markers associated with each of the morphological traits were identified. In total, 11 markers showed significant correlations with fruit weight, 9 markers with 100-aril weight, 11 markers with anthocyanin, and 8 markers with total soluble solids. Some markers were associated with more than one morphological trait, showing that the association of a marker with more than one trait can be caused by the pleiotropic effects of quantitative trait loci related to each other in different traits. For instance, the BA6-1 marker showed positive correlations with fruit weight, fruit crown width, and leaf length. Also, OPG13-3 and BA6-10 markers showed positive correlations with total soluble solids and anthocyanin content. The informative markers identified related to morphological characteristics in pomegranate can be a suitable guide to identify the genotypes with valuable fruit traits. Also, these markers can be used in selecting suitable parents for population generation for mapping purposes.

Morphological characterization and interspecific variation among five species of Ziziphus genus to select superiors in Iran

BACKGROUND

Several species of the genus Ziziphus are used worldwide for their medicinal and therapeutic properties. The present study aimed to investigate the phenotypic variation of five species of the Ziziphus genus, including Z. jujuba Mill. (25 accessions), Z. mauritiana Lam. (25 accessions), Z. spina-christi L. (25 accessions), Z. nummularia L. (10 accessions), and Z. xylopyrus Willd. (10 accessions) from Markazi, Sistan-va-Baluchestan, and Khuzestan provinces, Iran.

RESULTS

The investigated accessions have significant differences in terms of all the measured as revealed using analysis of variance (ANOVA, P < 0.01). The range of fruit weight was 0.43-1.29 g in Z. jujuba, 17.85-29.87 g in Z. mauritiana, 0.94-3.44 g in Z. spina-christi, 0.93-2.02 g in Z. nummularia, and 0.91-3.02 g in Z. xylopyrus. All the measured traits showed significant and positive correlations with each other. Multiple regression analysis (MRA) results showed that fruit length, stone width, stone weight, stone length, and fruit width have significant effects on fruit weight, and thus their fluctuations have a significant effect on increasing or decreasing fruit weight. The accessions were grouped into two main clusters using hierarchical cluster analysis. The first cluster (I) included all the accessions of Z. mauritiana, while the second cluster (II) contained the accessions of the rest species forming two sub-clusters.

CONCLUSION

Based on the commercial characters, accessions no. 12, 13, 17, 23, and 24 in Z. jujuba, accessions no. 3, 9, 17, 18, 20, 22, and 23 in Z. mauritiana, accessions no. 5, 6, 8, 13, 19, 22, and 24 in Z. spina-christi, accessions no. 3, 7, and 9 in Z. nummularia, and accessions no. 2, 4, 7, and 10 in Z. oxyphylla showed the highest fruit weight and thus can be suggested as superior for cultivation or use in breeding programs due to having larger fruits.

Morphological and chemical characterizations of jujube ( Ziziphus jujuba Mill.) to select superior accessions

The fruits of jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.) are consumed worldwide as food and herbal medicine because of their impact on human health and benefits. Here, phenotypic and chemical variation of this species was investigated to select superior accessions. The selected accessions showed significant differences based on the measured characteristics. Fresh fruit weight varied from 2.72 to 6.42 g with an average of 4.54, while dry fruit weight ranged from 0.89 to 2.57 g with an average of 1.55. Total phenolic content ranged from 1.69 to 14.05 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE) g⁻¹ fresh weight (FW) and total flavonoid content varied from 0.25 to 2.01 mg quercetin equivalents (QE) g⁻¹ FW. Total anthocyanin content varied from 5.98 to 76.32 µg CyE g⁻¹ FW. Radical scavenging activity (2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picryl‐hydrazyl‐hydrate [DPPH]) ranged from 1.32 to 5.82 mg ascorbic acid equivalents (AsAE) g⁻¹ FW, while ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) varied from 35.37 to 93.35 µM FeSO₄. The present study showed high diversity in morphological and chemical properties of jujube accessions. Based on the traits related to fruit quality such as fruit weight, fruit skin color, and fruit flavor, as well as in terms of chemical characteristics related to medicinal properties such as total anthocyanin content and antioxidant activity, 13 accessions were superior and are recommended to use in breeding programs. The commercial orchard of those best accessions should be extensively constructed to take advantage of the high yield of this tree as a crop and its medicinal properties.