MATURITY & QUALITY
Maturity Indices
Change in color is the main maturity index for Chinese jujube (Zizyphus jujuba). If picked green they do not ripen satisfactorily off the tree. Color changes from green to whitish-green to reddish-brown to dark-brown as the jujubes ripen. They should not be picked before the whitish-green stage.
Quality Indices
Jujubes are round to oblong drupes (2-5 cm in diameter, depending on cultivar) and have a spongy, subacid and sweet-tasting pulp. They can be eaten fresh, dried, or candied and are a very rich source of vitamin C. Compared with other fruits fresh jujubes are lower in water content (70-75%) and titratable acidity (0.15-0.25%), but higher in soluble solids (21-23%), total sugars (20-22%), phenolics (0.2-0.3%), and ascorbic acid (400-600mg/100g fresh weight).
TEMPERATURE & CONTROLLED ATMOSPHERE (CA)
Optimum Temperature
3-10°C (38-50°F) for fresh jujubes (storage potential = 2-3 months)
3-20°C (38-68°F) for dried jujubes (can be stored for up to one year)
Optimum Relative Humidity
75-85% for fresh jujubes (70-75% moisture)
55-60% for dried jujubes (20-25% moisture)
Rates of Respiration
15-20ml CO2 /kg·hr at 20°C (68°F); nonclimacteric respiratory pattern
To calculate heat production multiply ml CO2 /kg·hr by 440 to get Btu/ton/day or by 122 to get kcal/metric ton/day.
Rates of Ethylene Production
Less than 0.3 ml/kg·hr at 20°C (68°F)
Responses to Ethylene
Exposure of fresh whitish-green jujubes to 100ppm ethylene for 2-4 days at 20°C (68°F) results in faster and more uniform ripening as indicated by change of color to reddish-brown.
Responses to Controlled Atmospheres (CA)
No published information.
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