Fruit and Seed Development of Seven Jojoba Clones over Two Seasons

Abstract

Fruit and seed development of seven jojoba [Simmondsia chinensis (Link) C. Schneid.] clones were monitored over two seasons. Pollination occurred in late February and early March. However, most of the seed dry matter and wax accumulated after 15 June in both years. Fruit weight rapidly increased during May, followed by a leveling off in June and a 70% drop in weight in July as fruit matured and water was lost. While all seven clones exhibited similar fruit and seed developmental patterns, there were large differences between clones in the actual values observed over the two seasons. Differences in final seed weight between clones were due to differences in both rate and length of time of filling.