Breeding of a new, high-quality, early-brittle and crisp variety of early jujube

**Abstract:** Zaofengchuang is an early-maturing jujube variety that was selected in 1999 in Luan Village, Luan Town, Tai’an City, Shandong Province. The fruit is nearly round with an average weight of 12.0 g and a maximum of 16.3 g. It has a red peel, smooth shoulder, and a spindle-shaped kernel with an average weight of 0.33 g. The skin is thin and brittle, while the flesh is white, dense, crisp, and juicy, offering a sweet and fresh flavor. At the white-ripe stage, the soluble solids content reaches 19.78%, with a crispness rate of 31.15% and an edible rate of 97.0%. In Shandong’s Tai’an region, it matures in late August. Approved by the Shandong Provincial Forest Variety Approval Committee in December 2006, it has since been widely promoted across the province. **Keywords:** Jujube, new variety, Zaofengchuang, early maturing, crisp, high quality, fresh fruit. With the rapid development of China's economy, there is a growing demand for longer market periods of fresh jujubes. Most of the cultivated varieties in China are medium-maturing, and there are few high-quality early-maturing types available. This shortage makes it difficult to meet consumer needs. Therefore, breeding new early-maturing jujube varieties is of great practical importance. **1. Breeding Background** In 1999, during a survey in Luan Village, Tai’an City, Shandong Province, a jujube tree with excellent fruit quality, early maturity, and low disease resistance was discovered. The origin of this tree was unknown, but it was selected as an outstanding individual plant. In 2000, scions were collected and grafted at the Shandong Orchard Research Institute. Further grafting took place in 2003 at the Huangjiazhuang Jujube Test Garden. From 2002 to 2005, comparative trials were conducted in cities like Tai’an, Liaocheng, Dezhou, Dongying, and Jining. The variety showed stable traits and was officially named "Zaofengchuang" in 2005. It received provincial approval in December 2006. **2. Main Characteristics** **2.1 Botanical Features** The tree has a semi-open growth habit with a conical crown. Branches spread at an angle of 40–50 degrees. The bark is gray-brown with wide cork strips and longitudinal cracks. One-year-old branches are reddish-brown with white hairs. Spines are short and easily shed. The fruiting mother branches are triangular, with large, gray-brown skin. Leaves are lanceolate, small, and have shallow serrations. Inflorescences bear 4–7 flowers, which are light green and pentagonal. **2.2 Fruit Traits** The fruit is nearly round, measuring 3.04 cm in length and 2.90 cm in width. Average fruit weight is 12.0 g, with a maximum of 16.3 g. The skin is red, smooth, and glossy. The fruit has a prominent yellow spot, a deep stem scar, and a hollow top. The kernel is small, dark, and elongated. The flesh is white, crisp, juicy, and rich in sugar, with a high edible rate of 97.0%. **2.3 Growth and Yield** Zaofengchuang exhibits strong growth potential, reaching about 4 meters in height by age 4. It produces 12 branches per tree, with dense foliage. Annual shoot growth is around 483.6 cm. The variety shows high yield stability, with mature trees producing up to 19.6 kg per branch. It starts bearing fruit early, with good fruit setting and minimal drop. **2.4 Phenological Period** In Tai’an, the variety sprouts in early April, flowers in late May, and matures in late August. The fruit development period lasts 85 days, and leaves fall in late October. **2.5 Adaptability and Disease Resistance** Zaofengchuang adapts well to various soil types, including thin soils and sandy or clayey ground. It has strong drought tolerance and low disease incidence, with anthracnose and black spot rates below 5%. It thrives in both plains and hilly areas. **3. Regional Performance** Field tests from 2002 to 2004 in Tai’an and Jining showed that Zaofengchuang produced earlier and more fruit than the control variety. It had a higher soluble solids content (32.45%) and matured 3–5 days earlier. In mountainous regions, it also outperformed standard varieties in yield and quality. **4. Cultivation Techniques** **4.1 Planting** In plains, spacing is 4 m × 2 m or 3 m × 2 m. On slopes, planting follows contour lines with similar spacing. **4.2 Soil and Fertilization** Soil is deeply plowed after harvest, with depths varying based on soil thickness. Organic fertilizer is primary, supplemented with quick-release fertilizers. Nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are applied according to tree age and yield. **4.3 Pruning** Dense plantings use sparse or smooth-shaped trees. Summer pruning controls vegetative growth, while winter pruning shapes the tree and promotes fruiting branches. **4.4 Flower and Fruit Promotion** Gibberellin sprays (10–15 mg/L) and girdling (0.5–1.0 cm wide) increase fruit set. Careful selection of auxiliary branches ensures optimal fruiting. This variety is now highly recommended for farmers due to its early maturity, high quality, and adaptability to different environments.

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