Phylogenetic relationship among Indian jujube cultivars based on flavonoid spectrum

Abstract

Indian jujube (ber) cultivation has been in vogue in India since Vedic age. It is adapted to the extreme agroclimatic conditions of the arid ecosystem and is, therefore, a popular fruit crop in this region. Genetically, the crop is highly heterozygous and, therefore, a wide genetic variability exists in nature. Apart from this, polyploidy and hybridity has further enriched in the gene pool of this crop species. As a result of systematic evaluation of the gene pool a large number of cultivars have been identified. The classification of these cultivars rests mostly on floral and fruit characteristics which presently becomes overlapping and hence renders the identification difficult. Apart from this, the migration of varieties from one location to other and often with different names has led to greater confusion in identification of varieties. In a pursuit to develop National Gene Bank of ber, a total of 318 cultivars has been collected and maintained at CIAH, Bikaner farm.