The historical and current research progress on jujube-a superfruit for the future

Abstract

Jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.), or Chinese date, is the most important species of Rhamnaceae, a large cosmopolitan family, and is one of the oldest cultivated fruit trees in the world. It originates from the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River, the 'mother river' of the Chinese people. It is distributed in at least 48 countries on all continents except Antarctica and is becoming increasingly important, especially in arid and semiarid marginal lands. Based on a systematic analysis of the unique characteristics of jujube, we suggest that it deserves to be recognized as a superfruit. We summarized historical research achievements from the past 3000 years and reviewed recent research advances since 1949 in seven fields, including genome sequencing and application, germplasm resources and systematic taxonomy, breeding and genetics, cultivation theory and techniques, pest control, postharvest physiology and techniques, and nutrition and processing. Based on the challenges facing the jujube industry, we discuss eight research aspects to be focused on in the future.

Keywords: Advances; Fruit trees; History; Prospects; Scientific research; Ziziphus jujuba Mill.

Fig. 1. The morphology of different organs of Chinese jujube.

0—perennial shoot system in the dormant season, 1—primary shoot, 2—secondary shoot, 3—mother-bearing shoot, 4—fruit-bearing shoot, 5—inflorescence, 6—young fruit, 7—longitudinal section of mature fruit, 8—stone and kernel, 9—the diverse shapes of jujube fruits, 10—photograph of fruiting jujube

Fig. 2

The trend of jujube industrial development and research

Fig. 3

The process of in vivio induction of homogeneous polyploids via calluses in jujube

Fig. 4

Super high-density jujube orchard in Xinjiang, China (Photo by Prof. Yanjiang Shi)