Abstract
Ziziphus jujuba Mill. is one of the most important fruit crops and has been cultivated in China for more than 4000 years. Z. jujuba fruit is rich in nutritional and medicinal values. Compared to other wood fruits, Z. jujuba is unique in its flowering and fruiting characteristics. Floral buds differentiation and formation of Z. jujuba is an essential process that affects yield. Z. jujuba ‘Jinsi No.4’ blooms profusely, yet its final yield is low. In this study, the floral bud differentiation and development of ‘Jinsi No.4’ were examined by paraffin section. Results showed that the floral buds of ‘Jinsi No.4’ differentiated in the current year and started from early April. The duration of a single flower differentiation was short, taking only 7 days for maturation of flowers buds. Floral bud differentiation of ‘Jinsi No.4’ can be divided into six stages, i.e., pre-differentiation, initial differentiation, sepal differentiation, petal differentiation, stamen differentiation, and pistil differentiation. Flower development experienced seven stages, i.e., alabastrum, alabastrum break, sepal flattening, petal flattening, stamen flattening, filament withering, and ovule swelling. Dysplasia was observed in some floral organs in Z. jujuba ‘Jinsi No.4’, suggesting that the dysplasia of floral organs may be one of the main reasons for low yields. Our findings on flower bud development in ‘Jinsi No.4’ will contribute to its production and flowering management in Hunan area of southern China.
Highlights
Jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.), a member of the Rhamnaceae family, a native fruit tree of China, which has been cultivated for thousands of years [1 - 3]
Floral bud differentiation is critical to the production of Z. jujuba because it directly influences the number of floral buds and fruits, and its subsequent yield [11]
Floral buds of ‘Jinsi No.4’ grew in the leaf axils of shoots of jujube being protected by the stipules
Summary
Jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.), a member of the Rhamnaceae family, a native fruit tree of China, which has been cultivated for thousands of years [1 - 3]. It is one of the world’s major fruit crops grown in India, Russia, America, the Middle East, southern Europe, South Korea, Japan, and China [4 - 6]. The high amounts of vitamin A, C and B complexes, and minerals in jujube fruits [7]. It is a very important source of income for farmers in mountainous regions [8, 9]. Floral bud differentiation is critical to the production of Z. jujuba because it directly influences the number of floral buds and fruits, and its subsequent yield [11]
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