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Jojoba (; botanical name: Simmondsia chinensis)also common name goat nut, deer nut, pignut, wild hazel, quinine nut, coffeeberry, and gray box bushis an evergreen, dioecious shrub native to the Southwestern United States and northern Mexico. Simmondsia chinensis is the sole species of the family Simmondsiaceae, placed in the order Caryophyllales.
Jojoba is grown commercially in its area of origin and in other (semi-)arid regions to produce jojoba oil, a liquid wax ester extracted from its seed.
Jojoba is endemic to North America, and occupies an area of approximately between latitudes 25° and 31° North and between longitudes 109° and 117° West.
The leaf are opposite, ovalish in shape, long and broad, thick, waxy, and glaucous gray-green in color. Jojoba is an evergreen, but it sometimes shed its leaves as a response to severe droughts.
The are small and greenish-yellow, with 5–6 sepals and no petals. The plant typically blooms from March to May.
The female plants produce seed from flowers pollinated by the male plants. Jojoba leaves have an aerodynamic shape, creating a spiral effect, which brings wind-borne pollen from the male flower to the female flower.? Even though the male flowers are attractive for bees and are a pollen source, jojoba is anemophilous because its female flowers are not attractive to pollinators. Buchmann, S. L. (1987). Floral biology of jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis), an anemophilous plant. repository.arizona.edu In the Northern Hemisphere, pollination occurs during February and March. In the Southern Hemisphere, pollination occurs during August and September.?
The common name "jojoba" originated from the Oʼodham name Hohowi. The common name should not be confused with the similarly written jujube ( Ziziphus zizyphus), an unrelated plant species, which is commonly grown in China.
Jojoba has no significance in the Food system, as it is a non-edible plant with no notable nutritional value. Various Cultivar such as 'Benzioni' and 'Hazerim' are available, known for their high yields.
Only Bailey's pocket mouse, however, is known to be able to digest the wax found inside the jojoba seed. In large quantities, jojoba seed meal is toxic to many mammals. Later this effect was found to be due to simmondsin, which inhibits hunger. The indigestible wax acts as a laxative in humans.
Jojoba oil is highly valued in the cosmetics industry due to its similarity to human sebum. Consistent use of jojoba oil is thought to help regulate the skin's oil production. Additionally, it has a longer shelf life than other natural oils, making it a durable ingredient in skincare products. Medically, jojoba oil can relieve Headache, throat inflammation, and treat Wound. It has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antifungal, and insecticidal properties. After oil extraction, the leftover jojoba meal can be used as a low-cost livestock feed. Jojoba Leaf also contain antioxidant Flavonoid, which have been studied for their potential in treating asthma, inflammation, and cancer.
Native Americans also used the salve to soften and preserve leather. Pregnant women ate jojoba seeds, believing they assisted during childbirth. Hunters and raiders ate jojoba on the trail to keep hunger at bay.
The Seri people, who utilize nearly every edible plant in their domain, do not regard the seeds as real food and in the past ate it only in emergencies.
Jojoba prefers light, coarsely textured soils. Good drainage and water penetration is necessary. It tolerates salinity and nutrient-poor soils. Soil pH should be between 5 and 8. Jojoba grows best in young, coarse soils with minimal profile development. These soils, primarily derived from acid igneous materials, are typically found on slopes exceeding 3 up to over 30 percent. On north-facing slopes, the moisture retention is often better and thus can better support jojoba, especially young plants.
High temperatures are tolerated by jojoba, but frost can damage or kill plants. Jojoba can endure extreme temperature, with summer temperatures up to . However, they can on the other hand experience leaf damage in cold conditions. The Seedling are more vulnerable, suffering damage or death at temperatures between three and nine degrees below freezing. Factors such as drought, freezing conditions, and biotic pressures can significantly impact seedling survival. Jojoba thrives at various elevations, ranging from sea level to lower mountain slopes. In Arizona's Sonoran Desert, it is commonly found between . This elevation range provides an ideal environment for jojoba, characterized by well-drained, dry slopes or along Wadi, where water runoff can support plant growth.
Requirements are minimal, so jojoba plants do not need intensive cultivation. Weed problems only occur during the first two years after planting and there is little damage by insects.
Jojoba is well-suited for areas with low annual precipitation, typically flourishing where it exceeds annually. But it is possible to grow and survive for jojoba with a precipitation below 100mm. The optimal range for precipitation is between , which provides the necessary moisture for growth. But during the seed development a sufficient water availability is necessary. (2025). 9780323905374 ISBN 9780323905374 Supplemental irrigation could maximize production where rainfall is less than . There is no need for high fertilisation, but, especially in the first year, nitrogen increases growth. Jojoba is normally harvested by hand because seeds do not all mature in the same time. Yield is around depending on the age of the plantation.
Selective breeding is developing plants that produce more beans with higher wax content, as well as other characteristics that will facilitate harvesting.
By selecting appropriate elevations and ensuring proper water management, farmers can establish successful jojoba plantations that yield high-quality oil. As interest in sustainable agriculture grows, jojoba represents a promising crop for arid regions, providing economic benefits while thriving in challenging environments. Its ability to withstand high salinity up to 12 ds ⋅ m−1 at pH 9 (deciSiemens per meter or ECe Salt tolerance of crops) and the high value of jojoba products make jojoba an interesting plant for the use of desertification control. It has been used to combat and prevent desertification in the Thar Desert in India. (2025). 9780415889438, Balkema. ISBN 9780415889438
Research continues on options to further increase yields. There are already findings on the types of pruning techniques for the bushes, which are expected to make a difference in yields.
A more environmentally friendly, but more expensive, method is supercritical CO2 extraction. This method can be enhanced by adding Cosolvent such as ethanol.
Transesterification is used to convert jojoba oil into biodiesel, where the oil reacts with alcohol (e.g., methanol) in the presence of a Catalysis (e.g., sodium hydroxide). Both homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts can be used, as well as enzymatic catalysts, which are more environmentally friendly but costlier.
Agrawal et al. (2007) identified the sex-specific random amplification of polymorphic DNA genetic marker OPG-5, a base segment of 1400 bp, which only occurs in male plants. Agarwal et al. (2011)
Over the past two decades, a number of genetic marker have been developed that help determine the sex of the plant, thereby reducing the risk for farmers by ensuring more accurate propagation of female plants.
/ref> found additional markers at approximately 525 bp and 325 bp, specific to male plants, using the amplified fragment length polymorphism method and the primers EcoRI-GC/MseI-GCG and EcoRI-TAC/MseI-GCG. Additionally, a female-specific marker was found at approximately 270 bp with the primers EcoRI-TAC/MseI-GCG. Gender-specific microsatellite markers were also discovered.
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Categories: Simmondsiaceae, Crops Originating From Mexico, Crops Originating From The United States, Flora Of Arizona, Flora Of Baja California, Flora Of California, Flora Of The California Desert Regions, Flora Of The Sonoran Deserts, Flora Of Utah, Natural History Of The California Chaparral And Woodlands, Natural History Of The Colorado Desert, Natural History Of The Peninsular Ranges, North American Desert Flora, Waxes, Dioecious Plants, Flora Without Expected Tnc Conservation Status
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