Fruit characteristics of table fig (Ficus carica) cultivars in subtropical climate conditions of the Mediterranean region

Abstract

Fig (Ficus carica) is one of the most important fruit species of Mediterranean countries. Turkey is one of top countries in the world for the production of various cultivars of fig. In this study, fruit quality characteristics of some fresh fig cultivars ('Bursa Siyahi’, ‘Yediveren’, ‘Sari Zeybek’, ‘Göklop’, ‘Morgüz’, ‘Yeşilgüz') and 01‐IM‐02 genotype were determined in Kirikhan County, Hatay, Turkey, which has a Mediterranean climate. Several pomological characteristics of the genotype and cultivars were determined on 5‐year‐old trees during the 2001–03 growing season. Averaged over the 3 years, fruit weight was determined between 30.0 and 52.4 g; fruit width between 35.8 and 48.4 mm; fruit length between 36.2 and 48.3 mm; neck length between 3.1 and 7.2 mm; ostiole width between 0.8 and 2.4 mm; total soluble solid contents (TSS) between 22.7 and 27.2%; pH between 4.8 and 5.3; titratable acidity between 0.20 and 0.38%; and TSS/acidity between 75.4 and 139.0. Yield values ranged from 0.42 to 2.83 kg/tree. ‘Yediveren’, ‘Göklop’, and ‘Bursa Siyahi’ cultivars and 01‐IM‐02 genotype produced the largest fruits in terms of fruit weight and fruit dimensions. 01‐IM‐02, ‘Bursa Siyahi’, and ‘Yediveren’ scored the highest in overall quality according to the weighted ranked method. The objective colour measurements determined the differences between fruit skin colour and flesh colour of fig cultivars and genotype. According to data obtained, 01‐IM‐02, ‘Bursa Siyahi’, and ‘Yediveren’ were found to be promising for both export markets and local consumption.