Determination of Maturity Indices for Harvesting of ber (Ziziphus mauritiana Lamk.)

Indian jujube or ber (Ziziphus mauritiana Lamk.) is an important hardy underutilised fruit crop of arid and semi-arid regions India, symbolizing the production at a minimal cost. Ber fruits are potent source nutritional as well medicinal values generally consumed fresh. follow non-climacteric respiratory pattern. Fruits that allowed to ripen on tree typically have limited shelf life ideal results obtained if they picked before onset ripening. Fruit harvesting appropriate stage maturity critical for both quality control marketing. The time taken by mature from set depends upon cultivar location. Immature lack desirable sweetness flavour while over ripe quickly lose their attractiveness crispiness with slimy texture. Hence, experiment was conducted determine optimum indices during 2019-20. Cultivar selected this Narendra Selection-2. tagged current season shoots were harvested 21, 36, 51, 66, 81, 96, 111, 126, 141, 156, 171 and186 days after setting. colour, shape, specific gravity, total soluble solids (%), T.S.S.: Acid ratio organoleptic score recorded 15 interval set. revealed NBS-2 matures between to186 setting i.e., 29th February 15th March when attain yellowish green 0.95-0.92 ovate shape,17.29-17.94 T.S.S. 123.72-128.37 7.5 8.0 range.