Stability analysis for fruit yield and its components in Ber (Ziziphus mauritiana Lamk)

Abstract

Arid region of India is spread over 38.70 m ha covering about 12 per cent of the total area of the country. The tracts of hot arid region are found in the states of Rajasthan (19.6 m ha) followed by Gujarat (6.2 m ha), Andhra Pradesh (2.02 m ha), Punjab (1.5 m ha), Haryana (1.3 m ha) and Maharashtra (0.1 m ha) [1]. Farming being difficult in the arid tropics, the agroclimate of such regions favours the cultivation of some fruit crops. Indian jujube (Ziziphus mauritiana Lamk) commonly known as ber belonging to family Rhamnaceae being indigenous to India can be successfully cultivated in the hot arid region of the country. The fruits of Indian jujube are rich in vitaniin C, A, and B complex. In Punjab it is cultivated on 2,500 ha having production of 42,847 mt annually [1]. The choice of a stable cultivar is of paramount importance as a cultivar performing well in one locality may behave differently under different agro climatic conditions. The identification of a cultivar having wide adaptability is very important so that it may give stable performance. The present investigation was carried out to find out stable cultivar(s) for arid irrigated zone of Punjab.