Evaluation of agronomic and fruit quality traits of fig tree varieties (Ficus carica L.) grown in Mediterranean conditions

  • Cristina Pereira Junta de Extremadura, Finca La Orden-Valdesequera Research Centre (CICYTEX), Horticulture. Autovía Madrid-Lisboa, s/n, 06187 Badajoz
  • Manuel J. Serradilla Junta de Extremadura, Agri-Food Technological Institute of Extremadura (INTAEX-CICYTEX), Plant Food. Avda. Adolfo Suárez, s/n, 06007 Badajoz
  • Fernando Pérez-Gragera Junta de Extremadura, Finca La Orden-Valdesequera Research Centre (CICYTEX), Horticulture. Autovía Madrid-Lisboa, s/n, 06187 Badajoz
  • Alberto Martín Universidad de Extremadura, Escuela de Ingenierías Agrarias, Nutrición y Bromatología. Ctra. de Cáceres s/n, 06071 Badajoz
  • María C. Villalobos Universidad de Extremadura, Escuela de Ingenierías Agrarias, Nutrición y Bromatología. Ctra. de Cáceres s/n, 06071 Badajoz
  • Margarita López-Corrales Junta de Extremadura, Finca La Orden-Valdesequera Research Centre (CICYTEX), Horticulture. Autovía Madrid-Lisboa, s/n, 06187 Badajoz
Keywords: yield, brebas, fresh consumption, Spain

Abstract

In this work, the agronomic behaviour and fruit quality of ten varieties of common fig were evaluated for the establishment of new commercial orchards destined for fresh consumption. The following traits were measured: annual yield, cumulative yield, trunk cross sectional area (TCSA) and yield efficiency of each variety, as well as weight, width, total soluble solids (TSS), pH, titratable acidity (TA) and maturation index (MI) of brebas and figs. The results show that ‘Banane’ and ‘Brown Turkey’ were the earliest to enter into production, and ‘Banane’ showed the highest annual yield in the 7th green (2014), with 76 kg/tree, followed by ‘Brown Turkey’ (57.6 kg/tree), ‘Cuello Dama Blanco’ (52 kg/tree) and ‘Colar Elche’ (39 kg/tree). On the other hand, 'Cuello Dama Blanco' and 'De Rey' exhibited the better organoleptic traits, with TSS and MI values ranged from 18.7 ºBrix and 203.3 MI (‘Cuello Dama Blanco’) to 20.4 ºBrix and 187.1 MI (‘De Rey’) for brebas and from 21.4 ºBrix and 278.7 (‘Cuello Dama Blanco’) to 23.3 ºBrix and 255.6 (‘De Rey’) for figs. This study will allow the fruit grower to select the most interesting and appropriate range of varieties based on market needs taking into account the ripening season (early, middle or late) and fruit colour (green, purple or black).

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Author Biography

Alberto Martín, Universidad de Extremadura, Escuela de Ingenierías Agrarias, Nutrición y Bromatología. Ctra. de Cáceres s/n, 06071 Badajoz

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Published
2017-12-21
How to Cite
Pereira, C., Serradilla, M. J., Pérez-Gragera, F., Martín, A., Villalobos, M. C., & López-Corrales, M. (2017). Evaluation of agronomic and fruit quality traits of fig tree varieties (Ficus carica L.) grown in Mediterranean conditions. Spanish Journal of Agricultural Research, 15(3), e0903. https://doi.org/10.5424/sjar/2017153-10403
Section
Plant production (Field and horticultural crops)