Morphological Characterization of Promising Fig (Ficus carica L.) Genotypes from Southeastern Turkey

Fig (Ficus carica L.) is one of the fruit species whose area of origin includes Turkey. The southeastern region of Turkey is one of the most important areas for fig genetic resources and Adiyaman is one of the provinces located in this region where numerous wild fig genotypes with various different characteristics can be found throughout the area. In this study, a field survey was performed in the province of Adiyaman during the growing season of 2019 in order to find and characterize new wild fig genotypes having various and promising properties for different purposes. Twenty-five highly promising and morphologically different fig genotypes were determined and characterized using 39 phenotypic characters according to fig descriptors developed by IPGRI and CIHEAM (2003). According to the results of the principal component analysis, a total of 16 characters (eight growth based and eight fruit based) out of 39 growth and fruit descriptors were found in the first principal component and so to be highly appropriate in identifying fig genotypes. Fruit weight varied between 14.6 and 99.0 g, and fruit width varied from 29.5 to 60.3 mm in the genotypes evaluated. As a result of the study, some very promising fig genotypes suitable for fresh consumption, but also for drying purposes were found and characterized that would be utilized for different market demands and breeding of new cultivars.