Developmental Fruit Quality Based Clustered Normalized Maturity Index Can Ensure Proper Harvesting Time of Ber

Abstract

ABSTRACT Ziziphus mauritiana is a drought and salinity-tolerant crop and one of India’s most crucial arid fruit trees. The present study evaluated the fruit development of ber based on durational advancement in eight different cultivars, viz. Chhuhara, Chinese, Kalagola, Nazuk, Sanaur-2, Sanaur-4, Umran, and ZG-2. The developmental stages were chosen based on the number of days after full bloom: these stages included 28, 42, 56, 70, 84, 98, 112, 126, 140, 154, and 168 days after full bloom. With the advancement in fruit development, fruit firmness continued to decline till 168 days after full bloom. Total carotenoid content and flavonoid content were observed to increase as maturity progressed, but phenolic content decreased. The total antioxidant activity was also found to increase over time. Significant varietal differences were observed in the developmental changes in the quality attributes. To find optimized maturity time, varieties were grouped into four similar clusters. A normalized average maturity index was developed for each cluster. Depending upon the developed maturity index, a harvesting duration of 154 days after full bloom was found suitable for all tested varieties except ZG-2, for which 140 days after full bloom was found ideal as time for commercial harvest. The current experiment simplifies the complex maturity indices to a single harvesting time for each varietal cluster to act as ready recommendations to fruit growers.