BER CULTIVATION

Prepared ByPushpendra SinghM.Sc(Ag)Horticulture

Presented ByHari Dayal ChoudharyPhD

B.N – Zizyphus mauritiana

Common name : king of arid fruits, Poor man’s fruit.

2n = 48

Family- Rhamanaceae

Origin – India

Fruit type – Drupe

Placentation – Basal

Ber Plant

Morpholgy Tree with spreading branching habit and evergreen.Leaves simple, alternate, ovate and oblong, obtuse to acute.Infloresence axillary cymose appearing on current season growth Flowers hermaphrodite.Flower colour- Green to yellowType of infloresence- Axillary cymeFruit drupe, round to elliptical in shape, colour varies from green to yellowish red.Seed non endospermic, seed coat stonyPollination entomophillous.

Leaves & Flowers

Uses and composition

These fruits are eaten fresh as well as dried.Ber is processed into candy, pickle.

Composition

Rich in vitamin C, A and B complex and sugars.Rich in minerals like calcium, magnesium and zinc

Candy Pickle

Climate and soilClimateMainly found in arid condition however also found in tropical and sub tropical condition.It thrives upto elevation of 1000 m above sea level. Hardy plant. Can do

well in unfavorable climate.

Prefers hot & dry climate & adequate moisture during fruiting.

It is extremely drought hardy owing to its deep root system and other xerophytic

characters.

Excessive atmospheric humidity is not good for satisfactory fruiting. SoilCapable of growing under wide range of soils.

Well drained, fertile soil is best for growth

However it can tolerant saline, alkaline and waterlogged soil to certain extent.

Commercially cultivated species

Common Name Botanical Name Specific features

Indian Ber Zyzyphus mauritiana

Evergreen, Spreading habit

Chinese Ber Zyzphus jujuba Deciduous, Upright, Highly resistant to frost

- Z.nummularia Dwarfing rootstock

- Z.rotundifolia Commercially used rootstock for arid regions

Varietal classification

On basis of AreaExtremely Dry Gola, Seb , MundiyaDry region Banarsi, Karaka, Kaithali,

Umran, MaharwaliHumid Mehrun, Sanaur No. 2On basis of MaturityEarly Early Umran, Gola, SebMid Rashmi, Kaithali, Mundiya,

BanarsiLate Umran, IllachiRecently released new varietyThar Sevika Seb x KathaThar Bhubraj Selection from Bhusavar area

of BharatpurGoma Kirti / Ganesh Kirti selection from Umran

Planting Spacing : Rainfed-6x6m. Irrigated : 8x8m.Pits of 60x60x60 cm size are dug & filled with 50 kg FYM + soil + Aldrin or BHC or Methyl prathion power. Planting in June-Aug.

Manures & Fertilizers : Bearing tree/yr.

FYM (Kg) N2 (g) P2O5(g) K2O(g)Rainfed. = 30 100 50 50Irrigated. = 60 500 400 400

For rainfed, full dose given in July & for Irrigated crop FYM, P, K & ½ N given in July. Remaining ½ N in Sept

Irrigation : Immediately after planting. 4-5 days up to 3 months. Most part of year no irrigation. Irrigation after fruits set (Oct.-Feb.)

Intercropping : Intercrops are taken up to 2 years. Mung, Guar, during Kharif. Methi during Rabi

Training : Type of training system – Modified leader system

Pruning: Annual pruning in ber is essential to induce maximum number of new healthy shoots which would bear good quality fruits. Best time of pruning in ber is April- May

Commercial method of propogation – I OR T buddingBest time of planting: July to septemberPropagation :Seed : Main drawback of seed propagation is bear heavy, fruits small & poor quality.Vegetative : Most common method of propagation of ber is by I or T (shield) budding. Rootstock seedlings are raised by sowing seed kernels extracted by breaking the stone (endocarp). Budding is done during May-June on Zizyphus mauritiana rootstockSpacing of HDP - 5X5 mStandardisation of Rootstocks:Best rootstock for Ber – Zizyphus rotundifolia.Z.nummmulari is not used as rootstock because of “Inverted bottle neck disorder”.

FloweringFlower appear on current season growth as well as one year old growth as axillary cyme.Fruit set percentage ranges from 2 to 18%HarvestingPlanted comes into bearing after 5 to 6 years.Harvesting at proper stage is extremely essential.Non climacteric fruitMaturity time – 150-175 days after floweringHarvesting period – November – MarchMaturity indices- when fruit has developed a light yellowish scarlet to brownish colour on outer skin

Average yield – 80 to 200 kg/tree

Major pestFruit fly- Carpomiya vesuvianaMost dangerous pest of ber crop.Infestation starts in month of October when fruit attain pea stage and continues upto harvest.The adult female lays egg singly by inserting its ovipositor in the developing fruit.Larva hatches up and start feeding on the pulp making galleries.When the fruit is fully grown, the larva finds its way out making a hole in fruit skin.Control by- (1) Collect & remove dropped fruits. (2) Deep ploughing & apply 10% BHC on the basin. (3) spray monocrotophos or phosphomidon + Carbaryl.(4) Grow resistant varities like “katha” and “Tikdi” from Rajasthan,”Dodhia” from AP,”Mehrun” from Maharashtra.

Major disease

Powdery mildew : Oidium sp.

This disease can be seen in the form of white powdery mass on flowers, fruits &

leaves.

It appears on fruit during october to November after the fruit set is over.

Control

In the initial stages of disease, spray of 0.2% Kerathane.

Sulphur containing fugicide are generally more effective against powdery mildew

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