Jujube, an alternative fruit crop for the Southwestern United States

Abstract

Jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.), also called chinese date, originated in China and has been cultivated there for over 4000 years (Guo and Shan, 2010; Liu and Wang, 2009; Qu and Wang, 1993). Jujube was derived from its wild relative—sour jujube (Ziziphus spinosa). During ancient times in China, people selected plants with large, good tasting fruit from sour jujubes and brought them home to plant (Qu, 1963). Later, most jujube cultivars were selected through seedling selection or possible mutations (Guo and Shan, 2010; Liu and Wang, 2009). Now, there are over 800 jujube cultivars in China (Guo and Shan, 2010; Liu and Wang, 2009). In the United States, there are about 70– 80 cultivars/selections. Jujube also has a relative indian jujube (Ziziphus mauritiana), a tropical plant, which will not be included in this paper.