Jujube fruits behavior at controlled atmosphere storage

Chinese Jujube (Ziziphus jujuba) is considered a new fruit specie for Europe, even the first plants have been introduced to the Mediterranean Basin nearly 2000 years ago, during the Roman Emperor Octavian Augustus, from Syria, by one of its Consuls. Local biotypes of sour jujube (Ziziphus acidojujuba) and of Z. jujuba can be founded in many European countries. In different periods, few varieties were introduced from China and started to be cultivated on small areas or in private gardens. Recently, there is an interest on increasing the cultivation area and the consumption of jujube fruits. New studies regarding the consumer’s preferences and the fresh fruits storage life necessary. At the Faculty of Horticulture in Bucureşti, a study regarding the behavior of different jujube genotypes at the controlled atmosphere storage (temperature: -2-0°C, humidity: >95%, O₂ between 3 and 5% and CO₂<2%) was made. Some fruit physical and chemical analysis were made before and after storage. The results showed that the jujube fruits storage life is influenced by genotype and by the fruit field infections prior to harvest. Further storage tests are needed to better understand how the fresh jujube fruits storage and shelf life can be prolonged.