Abstract: 【Objective】 The objective of this study is to establish an applicable synthetical evaluation method of Dongzao fruit quality, represent the primary factors affecting the evaluation system, and provide theoretical evidence in evaluating Dongzao advanced selections. 【Method】 Twenty characteristics of the fruit quality of Dongzao advanced selections were measured first, and the data matrix was converted by the method of subordinate function for statistical analysis. Factor analysis was performed with SPSS 13.0 software and the rotated component matrix was obtained with ‘Quartimax’ method. The synthetical score of the advanced
selections was calculated with the following formula , in which Fjn indicated the factors’ score of each sample, and
Ej indicated the weight value of each factor. Two figures of scatter plot were described based on the first three factors, respectively.【Result】As a result, 6 factors (eigenvalue＞1) were extracted from the converted data matrix with their cumulative contribution approximated to 80.571%. The first factor was fruit sweet and crisp factor, with variance contribution approached to 26.257%. The second factor was fruit weight and other fruit internal quality factor, with variance contribution approached to 16.734%. The third factor was pericarp texture factor, with variance contribution approached to 14.503%. The fourth factor was fruit appearance factor, with variance contribution approached to 9.091%. The other two combined factors were defined as other factors. Scatter plot of the first three factors showed the distribution of fruit quality of all the Dongzao advanced selections and provided referrence to the selection. The arranging order of the synthetical score of the 20 advanced selections including the control was 16, 22, 14, 15, 18, 5, 12, 17, 4, 21, 1, 19, 8, 10, 13, 6, 2, 7, 3, CK and 20. 【Conclusion】 The method of subordinate function could integrate the positive and negative characteristics in the synthetical evaluation, so the matrix converted with this method was suitable for factor analysis. The primary factors affecting the evaluation system of Dongzao advanced selections were fruit sweet and crisp factor, fruit weight and other fruit internal quality factor, pericarp texture factor, fruit appearance factor and other factor. The top four advanced selections in the synthetical evaluation of the fruit quality of 20 Dongzao advanced selections were: No.16, No.22, No.15 and No.18, respectively, which should be regarded as candidates in the further selection, and the others should be eliminated in the group.

Key words: Ziziphus jujuba Mill. ‘Dongzao’')">Ziziphus jujuba Mill. ‘Dongzao’, advanced selections, fruit quality, factor analysis, synthetical evaluation