Document Type : Full Paper

Authors

• Ardeshir Nadikaramzadeh ¹
• Hossein Ali Asadi-Gharneh ²
• Hamid Zare ³

¹ Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan (Khorasgan) Branch, Isfahan, Iran

² Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, Isfahan (Khorasgan) Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran.

³ Fig Research Station, Fars Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Training Center, AREEO, Estahban, Iran

Abstract

Keywords

• Blastophaga wasp
• Breeding program
• Cluster analysis

Main Subjects

• Fruit Science

Extended Abstract

Introduction

Fig (Ficus carica L.) belongs to the Moraceae family. The fig trees are cultivated for their fruits in warm and dry climates. Fig is a gynodioecious species, and thus many varieties require pollination to produce fruits, a process known as caprification. Caprification is the pollination of long-styled female flowers of the edible fig by Blastophaga psenes L. wasps carrying the pollen from the profichi of the caprifig (F. carica var. caprificus Risso). Caprifig trees with high quality pollen are essential for good yields.

The development of new cultivars of fruits critically depends on breeders and growers having access to the genetic diversity in order to develop cultivars with higher yields, resistant to pests and diseases, tolerant to abiotic stresses, making more efficient use of resources, and producing new and better quality products. In fact, characterization based on morphological parameters is usually affected by ecological conditions and agronomic practices, however these attributes are a greatly suggested first step in advance of beginning biochemical or molecular evaluations.

Materials and methods

 The experiment was carried out in the Fig Research Station, Estahban, Iran. In this research, 38 morphological characteristics and 7 qualitative characteristics of caprifig (Sibi, Khakestooni, Atashi, Pouzdonbali, Daneh-Sefid, and Koohi) cultivars were investigated. The experiment was conducted as a completely randomized block design with three replications. Data were analysed using the SAS software (Ver. 9.4) and significant differences among the mean values were compared by DMRT at P≤0.05.

Results and discussion

 The results of morphological and physiological study showed that tree growth habit was semi-erect (Khakestooni, Atashi, Pouzdonbali, Daneh-Sefid, and Koohi cultivars) and spread (Sibi cultivar). Cultivars formed three groups based on the dominant type of leaves, that included entire (without lobes) (Khakestooni), three-lobed (Pouzdonbali, Daneh-Sefid, and Koohi) and five-lobed (Atashi and Sibi). The fruit shape was predominantly pyriform, which was observed in Atashi, Daneh-Sefid and Koohi cultivars. The maximum fruit length and width were in Atashi cultivar (21.33 mm and 22.33 mm, respectively). The longest fruit neck length was measured in Atashi cultivar and the highest fruit weight was obtained in Sibi cultivar. The fruit skin ground colour showed strong diversity, including green-yellow in Sibi, Daneh-Sefid and Pozdenbali cultivars, purple in Koohi and Atashi cultivars, and violet in Khakestooni cultivar. All cultivars except Koohi had a low fruit number per branch in. The number of pollens inside the fruit was highly variable, including low in Atashi and Sibi cultivars, moderate in Khakestooni and Daneh-Sefid cultivars, and high in Pouzdonbali and Koohi cultivars. There was the highest number of male and female Blastophaga in Khakestooni cultivar. The maximum chlorophyll a, b, total chlorophyll and carotenoid contents were recorded in the Sibi cultivar. The anthocyanin content in Atashi cultivar was the greatest in comparision with other cultivars (0.031 µmol/g). Extract fruit pH varied from 6.05 to 6.64 with the greatest value in Daneh-Sefid cultivar. Total soluble solids (TSS) ranged from 9.31 to 10.92 °Brix. The highest TSS was recorded in Khakestooni cultivar. Khakestooni (0.20%) and Pouzdonbali (0.07%) had the maximum and minimum content of titratable acidity, respectively.

This study provided critical insights into the morphological diversity of Ficus carica var. caprificus as a key pollinator species for edible figs. As figs are economically important in many regions, understanding the genetic variability among caprifigs can significantly impact fig fruit production and quality by enhancing breeding and cultivation practices. The fruit morphology showed considerable diversity, with predominantly pyriform shapes observed among several cultivars. This shape may affect the pollination efficiency and subsequent fruit set, emphasizing the need for extensive characterization to enhance breeding strategies. Interestingly, the Atashi cultivar exhibited the largest fruits, which could indicate a potential target for breeders aiming to enhance fig size in edible varieties. The findings regarding chlorophyll and carotenoid contents suggest that certain genotypes, like Sibi, have the potential for increasing photosynthetic efficiency, contributing to better growth and higher yields. Future breeding strategies can leverage this morphological and physiological knowledge to introduce desirable traits into edible fig varieties, ultimately enhancing agricultural productivity and sustainability.

Conclusion

 Our study revealed significant morphological variation among the caprifig cultivars, which makes them valuable genetic resources for incorporation in breeding programs, in addition to their utilization for caprification.