Breeding systems in fig

[Charlie Dodgson]

We found that selecting the right parents’ combination is a highly important stage. While breeding for distinguished female cultivars, we also selected superior Caprifig and developed improved caprifigs. Several agronomic traits were evaluated within our segregating populations. We discovered that black color of the skin is dominant over green while red interior color was dominant over pale color. Smooth skin is dominant over cracked fruits and round fruit shape is dominant over pear shape. Fruit size is a quantitative trait as two large size fruit parents will generate large size fruits.

 

[Charlie Dodgson]

In this paper, the authors stress the importance of both parents possessing desirable dominant traits.

Also, the authors state:
"For using the sex‐linkage markers in fig breeding, fig seedlings were germinated and sampled. Robotic DNA extraction followed by real time PCR was used to distinguish between markers. Seedlings were classified and males and females progenies were separated in different pots."

In the last sentence, the authors omit the fact that over 1/3 of the seedlings were classified as "unknown sex" and discarded.

 

[Rob]

This is very interesting to know, thank you for posting it!!!