Ziziphus mauritiana

Why are the seeds of this species difficult? The seeds are likely to have physiological dormancy, but may also be physically dormant.

Ziziphus mauritiana (Image: S. Wood, RBG Kew)

Seed Storage

This species has Orthodox seeds - dry to 15-20% eRH and store at -20ºC, or as cool as possible.

Germination Requirements

Germinate on agar, germination paper or sand at 25ºC.

The seeds of this species are expected to be Physiologically Dormant, but may also be Physically Dormant (inferred from available information on germination and of characteristics of seeds in this family) or a combination of both. If germination is low, overcome physiological dormancy by mimicking the seasonal patterns of the species' native habitat. Use a moist pre-chill or pre-heat treatment (depending on local climatic conditions) or a dry after-ripening treatment, before germinating the seeds on agar, germination paper or sand at their optimum temperature. Remove seed covering structures before sowing if necessary, to overcome physical dormancy.

Seed Morphology

Ziziphus mauritiana section
(Image: S. Wood, RBG Kew)

The fruit (2-3 cm) is an ovoid drupe that contains a single seed (sometimes two) enclosed in a woody endocarp.

See more images of this species at the Digital Atlas of Economic Plants.

Taxonomy

Family: RHAMNACEAE

Accepted name: Ziziphus mauritiana Lam.

Synonyms: Ziziphus mauritiana var. deserticola A.Chev., Ziziphus mauritiana var. muratiana (Maire) A.Chev., Ziziphus muratiana Maire, Ziziphus mauritiana var. orthacantha (DC.) A.Chev., Ziziphus orthacantha DC., Rhamnus jujuba L., Ziziphus jujuba (L.) Gaertn.

Common name: Indian jujube

References and Links

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (1994). Genebank Standards. FAO/IPGRI, Rome, Italy.
Janick, J. and Paull, R.E. (eds) (2008). The Encyclopedia of Fruit and Nuts. CAB International, UK.
Prins, H. and Maghembe, J.A. (1994). Germination studies on seed of fruit-trees indigenous to Malawi. Forest Ecology and Management, Vol 64 (2-3): pp111-125.
Purseglove, J.W. (1968). Tropical Crops: dicotyledons. Longman Group Ltd., UK.

AFPD (African Flowering Plants Database) - Conservatoire et Jardin Botaniques de la Ville de Genève, Switzerland, and South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria, RSA: Ziziphus mauritiana.
Forest & Landscape Denmark - University of Copenhagen, Denmark: seed leaflet on Ziziphus mauritiana.
PROTAbase (Plant Resources of Tropical Africa) - Wageningen, Netherlands: Ziziphus mauritiana.
SID (Seed Information Database) - Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, UK: Ziziphus mauritiana.
Tropicos - Missouri Botanical Garden, USA: Ziziphus mauritiana.