Skip to main content
ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Davis, California » Nat'l Clonal Germplasm Rep - Tree Fruit & Nut Crops & Grapes » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #340103

Title: 2017 Update of the field evaluation of new and underutilized fig cultivars for fresh and dried markets

Author
item Preece, John
item FERGUSON, LOUISE - University Of California
item CRISOSTO, CARLOS - University Of California
item Aradhya, Mallikarjuna
item NORTON, MAXWELL - University Of California - Cooperative Extension Service
item GORDON, PHOEBE - University Of California - Cooperative Extension Service
item Garrison, Howard

Submitted to: Meeting Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/15/2017
Publication Date: 5/11/2017
Citation: Preece, J.E., Ferguson, L., Crisosto, C., Aradhya, M.K., Norton, M., Gordon, P., Garrison, H.G. 2017. 2017 Update of the field evaluation of new and underutilized fig cultivars for fresh and dried markets. Meeting Proceedings. Tab 3:1-4.

Interpretive Summary: There are new and underutilized fig cultivars in the national collection of figs at the National Clonal Germplasm Repository, Davis, CA. This study is a replicated field trial of 12 cultivars that may potentially impact the fresh market and/or dry market fig industry. On April 16, 2015, the fig trees were planted by Chris DeBenedetto at J&R DeBenedetto Orchards in Chowchilla, CA. Field growth and survival data were collected in March 2016 and April 2017. The first year’s growth data are in the 2016 annual report, and the focus of this report is the 2017 data. Because of excessively wet conditions during the winter of 2016/2107, data collection was delayed until after the trees were pruned. After two growing seasons, stem caliper (diameter) 30 cm above the ground line ranged from 26.7 (Black Fig #1) to 48.4 mm for the vigorous Carica X Palmata Hybrid. Although the trees had been pruned, their heights ranged from 85.5 (Black Fig #1) to 120.0 cm (Patlican). The trees were pruned to 3 scaffolds prior to the date of data collection.

Technical Abstract: There are new and underutilized fig cultivars in the national collection of figs at the National Clonal Germplasm Repository, Davis, CA. This study is a replicated field trial of 12 cultivars that may potentially impact the fresh market and/or dry market fig industry. On April 16, 2015, the fig trees were planted by Chris DeBenedetto at J&R DeBenedetto Orchards in Chowchilla, CA. Field growth and survival data were collected in March 2016 and April 2017. The first year’s growth data are in the 2016 annual report, and the focus of this report is the 2017 data. Because of excessively wet conditions during the winter of 2016/2107, data collection was delayed until after the trees were pruned. After two growing seasons, stem caliper (diameter) 30 cm above the ground line ranged from 26.7 (Black Fig #1) to 48.4 mm for the vigorous Carica X Palmata Hybrid. Although the trees had been pruned, their heights ranged from 85.5 (Black Fig #1) to 120.0 cm (Patlican). The trees were pruned to 3 scaffolds prior to the date of data collection.