Characterization and evaluation of male fig (caprifig) accessions in Iran

Abstract

In this research, 53 male fig (caprifig) accessions were analyzed for phenotypic diversity using 32 morphological variables. Significant phenotypic diversity was detected between male fig accessions based on morphological traits. Principal component analysis revealed that the first ten components explained 76.09 % of the total morphological variation, where petiole length, petiole thickness, leaf length, leaf width, fruit width, fruit shape, length of central lobe, number of lobes and leaf shape contributed most of the total variation. Simple correlation coefficient analysis showed the existence of significant positive and negative correlations among characteristics. The majority of significant correlation coefficients were found in the characteristics representing fruit sizes with leaf size. Unweighted pair-group method of arithmetic average cluster analysis identified two major clusters and several subclusters for studied accessions. According to the present results, accessions Caprifig 35, Caprifig 6, Caprifig 12, Caprifig 36, Caprifig 38, Caprifig 28, Caprifig 30, Caprifig 26 and Caprifig 18 with the highest Blastophaga number are suitable in this important trait to be used for caprification. Also, the conservation of the highly diverse native accessions of Iranian male figs is recommended.