Capri Fig Breeding Idea

[SpiritFarmVa]

Great to know, thanks! Shouldn't there be a lot more persistent caprifig varieties known and available? It seems to me persistent capri figs are under represented.

I have felt this too. I speculate that in pursuit of great edible figs the persistent Caprifig seedlings are just overlooked.

 

[Anello]

I've always wondered about the rootstock influence, never thought about using it to tweak caprifig characteristics. Cherry cordial sounds like a solid choice for vigor and disease resistance.

 

[rnexus]

I have felt this too. I speculate that in pursuit of great edible figs the persistent Caprifig seedlings are just overlooked.

We will make sure they are not over looked anymore!

 

[SpiritFarmVa]

We will make sure they are not over looked anymore!

Definitely will retain seedlings longer once we have them to find out if any are persistent.

 

[hambones]

I could see how a rootstock might influence when a tree wakes up, or when it sets fruit, or it's vigor, or growth characteristics. I understand how a rootstock may prevent nematode infestation or allow better growth of grafted variety in different soils. I do not understand how a rootstock could pass genetic material on to offspring though a grafted variety's fruit.

If I get a cutting of a variety that was grown on rootstock, I would never expect it to be anything except the grafted variety and certainly not some mix of the rootstock and the grafted variety.

Am I missing something? Is this a thing that actually happens?

 

[Fig Gazer]

Hambones : I see things the same as you ,see no genetic mixing between sion and root stock .

 

[Charlie Dodgson]

Is this a thing that actually happens?

I've not read of an experiment attempting to pass traits from perennial rootstock to scion, but that's not saying much.
I do know of a different phenomenon that might be misinterpreted as the same. In some Citrus cultivars, there are color variations in the fruit e.g. red centered grapefruit. Rootstocks play a role in providing the proteins that build the fruit. On some rootstocks the coloration is more intense.

 

[Figology]

I've not read of an experiment attempting to pass traits from perennial rootstock to scion, but that's not saying much.
I do know of a different phenomenon that might be misinterpreted as the same. In some Citrus cultivars, there are color variations in the fruit e.g. red centered grapefruit. Rootstocks play a role in providing the proteins that build the fruit. On some rootstocks the coloration is more intense.

Does that mean the rootstock provides different nutrients than the scion originally needed?

 

[Figology]

Does that mean the rootstock provides different nutrients than the scion originally needed?

*nutrient levels

 

[Fig Gazer]

Seems more than posible that different root stocks would privide suttle differences in nutrients and water to the sion .

 

[Fig Gazer]

The quality of the graft effects this also !

 

[Charlie Dodgson]

Does that mean the rootstock provides different nutrients than the scion originally needed?

The rootstock is in the "driver's seat". It is sending building blocks that aren't necessarily nutrients. In this case, they are proteins.