In Indian Thar desert, Ziziphus species (Z. nummularia, Z. rotundifolia, Z. mauritiana), besides their multi-purpose uses, constitutes an important source of low cost, nutritious fresh edible fruits. Some of the newly introduced cultivars (e.g., Seb, Gola), obtained by budding Z. mauritiana scions on drought hardy root-stocks of native Z. rotundifolia, produce big plum sized fruits which are much richer than apple in their mineral and vitamin C content. Depending on cultivar, fruits are harvested at mature-green and mature-golden yellow stages when they exhibit the best organoleptic qualities. Fully ripe fruits often become red or dark brown and loose their firm, crisp and juicy texture.[...]