Morphological and phytochemical diversity of some jujube ecotypes (Zizyphus jujuba Mill.)

Jujube (Zizyphus jujuba Mill.) is a horticultural-medicinal plant belonging to the family Rhamnaceae. This research was conducted to evaluate the morphological traits and phytochemical compounds of jujube ecotypesin Iran to achieve superior medicinal ecotype. The plan with fourteen jujube ecotypes of jujube collection of Jahad University of Southern Khorasan (Birjand) was carried out in spring-2018 in a completely randomized design with three replications. Leaf and riped fruit samples were evaluated morphologically and phytochemically. The results showed that the yield of 100-seed weight was positively and significantly correlated with fruit length, fruit width and length to fruit width ratio.  Also, length to fruit width ratio and length to leaf width ratio had a positive and significant correlation with leaf width. The correlation of total flavonoid and total phenol traits with other phytochemical traits was not significant. Antioxidant capacity was significantly correlated only with total phenol. Analysis of variance of morphological traits showed that the studied ecotypes had a significant difference with each other, which indicates the existence of a variety of jujube germplasm in Iran. Based on the cluster analysis results, fourteen ecotypes were placed in two separate clusters. The results of this study showed that there is a considerable diversity in the studied ecotypes that can be used in breeding programs of the species.