Abstract: [Objective] Ziziphus acidojujuba C.Y. Cheng et M.J. Liu is one of the main ecological and economical tree species in Chaoyang region in western Liaoning Province, China. The diversity in fruit characteristics were studied to build a foundation for exploration and utilization of Z. acidojujuba resources.[Method] A total of 51 accessions of Z. acidojujuba were selected from the region under study, 21 main fruit characteristics were measured and correlation among characteristics, principal component analysis, cluster analysis, and probability grading were conducted.[Result] 1) There were abundant variations between these characteristics. The range of variation coefficient was from 7.69% to 84.36%, among them larger values were of proportion of double-kernelled accessions(84.36%), average mass of single fruit(68.25%), vertical length of fruit stone(66.94%), and the content of titratable acid(65.44%), respectively. All of the main characteristics displayed a normal distribution. 2) 21 pairs of characteristics were highly significantly correlated between each other, 16 pairs of characteristics were significantly correlated, such that the mass of single fruit displayed a highly significant positive correlation with the content of reducing sugar, significant positive correlation with edible rate, highly significant negative correlation with the content of titratable acid, and significant negative correlation with Vc content. 3) 8 principal components were drawn from the 21 main characteristics, the cumulative contribution rate was 81.581% from 1st to 8th principal component; The contribution of the major characteristics from large to small were in turn the vertical length of fruit stone, vertical length of fruit kernel, fruit cross diameter, single fruit mass, mass of 1 000 kernels, mass of single fruit stone, cross diameter of fruit kernel, cross diameter of fruit stone, fruit vertical length, content of reducing sugar, total sugar content, Vc content, and rate of double kernels. The 51 Z. acidojujuba accessions were clustered into 3 main categories according to the superiority. 4) Using probability grading method, 12 characteristics were graded by 5 levels, and 9 characteristics were graded by 3 levels.[Conclusion] The Z. acidojujuba fruit characteristics in the study area had a relatively large variation, and all of the 21 fruit characteristics displayed a normal distribution, there were significant or highly significant correlation between 37 pairs of characteristics. Based on the principal components analysis, the 51 Z. acidojujuba accessions were clustered into 3 main categories. The results would provide an important basis for breeding programs of Z. acidojujuba.

Key words: Ziziphus acidojujuba, variation type, fruit characteristics, diversity, Chaoyang of Liaoning