Evaluation of performance of flowering, fruiting and quality characters of twenty genotypes of ber (Zizyphus mauritiana) under semi-arid conditions of Rajasthan

The experiment was conducted to evaluate 20 diverse genotype of ber (Zizyphus mauritiana Lamk.) during 2014–15 and 2015–16 at Asalpur Farm, Department of Horticulture, SKN College of Agriculture, Jobner. Maximum mean duration of flowering was observed in Sukhawani genotype in pooled data, while maximum fruit setting, fruit retention and minimum fruit drop were observed in Gola. The highest mean duration of fruiting, initial date of first harvesting, fruit picking and minimum total days taken to first harvesting were recorded in Gola, whereas maximum total days taken to complete harvesting were found in Sukhawani. The maximum mean TSS and total sugars were observed in Meharun, while minimum total acidity was found in Sukhawani. The maximum mean ascorbic acid was recorded in Lakhan. The highest reducing sugar was observed in Gola and maximum nonreducing sugar in Ilaichi. The highest mean TSS: acid ratio was observed in Tikadi during both the years as well as in pooled analysis under semi-arid condition of Rajasthan.