IDENTIFICATION OF DWARF ROOTSTOCK CANDIDATES IN FIG: WILD FIG (Ficus carica var. rupestris (HAUSSKN.) BROWICZ) POPULATION AND MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION

Abstract

This study was carried out to morphologically characterize and evaluate the dwarf rootstock potential of the fig genotypes in the Ficus carica var. rupestris (Hausskn.) Browicz population is distributed in Tunceli, Türkiye. For this purpose, these genotypes' eight qualitative and 16 quantitative traits were investigated. In the study, 42 fig genotypes were selected from the Ficus carica var. rupestris population. Regarding tree growth habit, 40% (17 genotypes) of the genotypes were creeping, and 50% (21 genotypes) were intermediate in tree vigour. Also, shoot internode length of the genotypes was short (24 genotypes), and 76% (32 genotypes) of genotypes showed high characteristics in terms of tendency to form suckers. When all the characteristics were evaluated together using the weighted analysis, FCR-19 was calculated as having the highest rootstock potential (910 points) followed by FCR-6, FCR-7, FCR-14, FCR-15, FCR-20, FCR-24, FCR-27, FCR-31, and FCR-42 genotypes (865 points). At the end of the study, 7 genotypes (FCR-1, FCR-2, FCR-14, FCR-19, FCR-23, FCR-28, FCR-29) with dwarfing rootstock potential were evaluated. We believe that detailed studies on these genotypes will contribute to developing modern fig cultivation techniques and designing new breeding programs.