Articles
Present and perspectives for jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.) cultivation in Europe
Article number
1436_2
Pages
9 – 18
Language
English
Abstract
Jujube was introduced nearly 2,000 years ago from China to Syria and then to the Italian Peninsula through the ancient Silk Road.
In time, jujube trees were distributed and planted in all the territories of the Roman Empire, and old genotypes were still found around the Mediterranean and Black Sea areas.
Unfortunately, because of their low eating qualities, those genotypes didn’t diffuse and they are mainly known and consumed locally.
In recent years, some new Chinese cultivars for fresh consumption and drying have started to be introduced and tested in a few production zones in Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Italy, Spain, and the first results are extremely promising.
Taking into consideration the new challenges of European fruit production, such as climate change and collateral effects: desertification in some areas, new pests and diseases, reduction of allowed pesticide molecules, low availability of manual labor, etc., jujube can be a new crop to solve those problems.
At the same time, jujube plants are easy to grow, have no or low irrigation needs, have fewer pests and diseases in our climate, and are adaptable for organic farming.
Even so, there are some difficulties in extending the jujube crop in Romania and Europe, such as a lack of specialized nurseries, and so, a lack of planting material, which is unknown and not included in the official list of fruit species, and there is no financial support for investments in new orchards.
In the near future, an intense cooperation between Chinese and European scientists is needed to introduce and test new cultivars and production methods adapted to European realities.
Jujube fruit has high nutraceutical value, being a ‘Super Fruit’ that can be used fresh or as raw material for ‘Super Food’. Jujube products should be available and consumed by a large part of the world’s population.
In time, jujube trees were distributed and planted in all the territories of the Roman Empire, and old genotypes were still found around the Mediterranean and Black Sea areas.
Unfortunately, because of their low eating qualities, those genotypes didn’t diffuse and they are mainly known and consumed locally.
In recent years, some new Chinese cultivars for fresh consumption and drying have started to be introduced and tested in a few production zones in Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Italy, Spain, and the first results are extremely promising.
Taking into consideration the new challenges of European fruit production, such as climate change and collateral effects: desertification in some areas, new pests and diseases, reduction of allowed pesticide molecules, low availability of manual labor, etc., jujube can be a new crop to solve those problems.
At the same time, jujube plants are easy to grow, have no or low irrigation needs, have fewer pests and diseases in our climate, and are adaptable for organic farming.
Even so, there are some difficulties in extending the jujube crop in Romania and Europe, such as a lack of specialized nurseries, and so, a lack of planting material, which is unknown and not included in the official list of fruit species, and there is no financial support for investments in new orchards.
In the near future, an intense cooperation between Chinese and European scientists is needed to introduce and test new cultivars and production methods adapted to European realities.
Jujube fruit has high nutraceutical value, being a ‘Super Fruit’ that can be used fresh or as raw material for ‘Super Food’. Jujube products should be available and consumed by a large part of the world’s population.
Publication
Authors
F. Stănică, M.J. Liu
Keywords
history, cultivars, breeding, cultivation, market
Groups involved
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