Background: Recently, jujube (Zizyphus jujuba Mill.) has been attracting attention as a fruit, and its cultivation in rain shelter house is increasing to produce the high quality fresh jujube. This study was carried out to investigate the growth and fruit characteristics of jujube according to the types of rain shelter house.
Methods and Results: The characteristics of 5-year-old Bokjo cultivar cultivated in 3 types of rain shelter house, multi span rain shelter house with roof vent (Type I), single span house with a column in the center and roof vent (Type II) and single span house with a column in the center and without roof vent (Type III), and open field were examined. The sprouting and blooming period were different among the types of rain shelter house. The diameter of main stem was higher in rain shelter houses than in the open field. There was no a significant difference in fruit number per leaf stem among the types of cultivation. The incidence of fruit cracking in open field cultivation which was 51.2% was much higher than that in Type I 21.6%, Type II 19.3%, and Type III 25.5%. The fruit size and weight in rain shelter houses, especially in Type III rain shelter house were higher than those in the open field and the soluble solids content of fruit in Type I and Type II was higher than in Type III rain shelter house and the open field.
Conclusions: The results show that the growth and fruit quality of jujube were improved by cultivation in rain shelter house, and affected by the types of rain shelter house.