Thirty five ber genotypes were studied for their fruit and stone characters. Different types of fruit shapes were observed such as oblong, oval, ovate, round and obovate. The shape of fruit apex and base were found from round, broad and beaked. The skin colour of unripe and ripe fruit also showed considerable variation, as light green (Kaithli), green (Dandan), dark green (Desi Alwar and ZG-3), green with pinkish purple colour (Kathpal) in unripe, while in ripe fruit greenish yellow (Kaithli), pinkish yellow (Katha Rajasthan), chocolate smooth brown (Chhuhara), and yellowish with red brown blush (Kathaphal) were observed. Fruit surface in majority of genotypes was smooth (Gola, Dandan etc.) and warty (Illachi, Mirchia, Banarsi Karaka and Chonchal). In most of the genotypes oblong stone shape was observed but some were oval to ovate. The carpological traits can be used for improvement programme of ber.
Ber Genotypes, Carpological traits, Diversity, Fruit and Stone characters, Ziziphus mauritiana
