This research was carried out in Southeast of Tunisia in 2009 and 2010, in order to study the propagation of six (
Fig (
Figs have recently attracted a great deal of attention and are widespread throughout the world. The world produces over one million tons of figs yearly, of which 82% are produced in Mediterranean countries [
In Tunisia, the production is about 29 000 tons; it represents 3% of total world production [
The objective of this study was to characterize and compare fig nursery plants of some local fig cultivars by using hardwood cuttings under field conditions. In this way, five cultivars and six cuttings sizes were compared in order to optimize the propagation method of fig in Tunisia.
In this research, Hardwood cuttings of 4 uniferous (one production per year) fig cultivars (“Bayoudhi,” “Jemâaoui,” “Ragoubi,” and “Zidi”), one biferous (two productions per year) (“Bither”), and one caprifig (male fig) (“Bouharrag”) were used as plant material. Two experiments were done in 2009 and repeated in 2010. Fig tree is a species having high level of adaptation to different soil types and dry conditions. These cultivars are frequently cultivated for producing fresh and sun drying fig in arid region of Tunisia (100–200 mm annual precipitation). These ones are widely grown in southern Tunisia and were described in a previous work [
Fig hardwood cuttings experiments in split-plot design.
Experiment | Cultivar | Replicate 1 | Replicate 2 | Replicate 3 |
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Experiment |
“Bouharrag” | 10 cuttings | 10 cuttings | 10 cuttings |
“Bayoudhi” | 10 cuttings | 10 cuttings | 10 cuttings | |
“Jemaâoui” | 10 cuttings | 10 cuttings | 10 cuttings | |
“Rogabi” | 10 cuttings | 10 cuttings | 10 cuttings | |
“Zidi” | 10 cuttings | 10 cuttings | 10 cuttings | |
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Experiment |
“Bither”: cutting type 1 | 10 cuttings | 10 cuttings | 10 cuttings |
“Bither”: cutting type 2 | 10 cuttings | 10 cuttings | 10 cuttings | |
“Bither”: cutting type 3 | 10 cuttings | 10 cuttings | 10 cuttings | |
“Bither”: cutting type 4 | 10 cuttings | 10 cuttings | 10 cuttings | |
“Bither”: cutting type 5 | 10 cuttings | 10 cuttings | 10 cuttings | |
“Bither”: cutting type 6 | 10 cuttings | 10 cuttings | 10 cuttings |
It consists in comparing the ability of cutting of 5 cultivars (“Bayoudhi,” “Jemâaoui,” “Ragoubi,” “Zidi,” and “Bouharrag”). The experiment was carried out with three replicates in a split-plot design [
It was involved on the cultivar “Bither” with 6 cuttings types as described below: Type 1: cuttings of one-year-old shoot, length (30 cm), and diameter (<1.5 cm); Type 2: cuttings of one-year-old shoot, length (40 cm), and diameter (<1.5 cm); Type 3: cuttings of one-year-old shoot, length (60 cm), and diameter (<1.5 cm); Type 4: cuttings of 2-year-old shoot, length (30 cm), and diameter (<1.5 cm); Type 5: cuttings of 2-year-old shoot, length (40 cm), and diameter (<1.5 cm); Type 6: cuttings of 2-year-old shoots, length (60 cm), and diameter (>2 cm).
This study was planned out with three replicates in a split-plot design [
During this research, cuttings were planted directly in rooting units (
Root emergence percentage, number of emerged buds/nursery plant, length of nursery plant from the soil surface, and diameter of nursery plant were measured on the section 5 cm higher than soil surface and number of leaves/nursery plant. At the drawing out of young plants, cumulative growth (cutting length + new growth) of nursery plant and number of roots/nursery plant were determined [
Data were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA), using STATBOX version 6.40. In case of significant cultivars and cutting type’s effects, comparison of values was performed by means of the least significant difference (LSD) test at a significance level of 0.05, as the percentage root emergence (RE %) was calculated by the means of three replications.
The descriptive data analysis revealed a high variability among all the morphological characters of young plant fig cultivars studied under the field conditions. The most widely varied characters were root emergence percentage (10%–90%) and cumulative growth of nursery plant (32–112 cm). Considerable range of variation was also noticed in length of nursery plant (4 to 70 cm) and number of leaves/nursery plant; it varied from 3 leaves to 63 leaves, whereas very low variation was noted in number of emerged buds/nursery plant, diameter of nursery plant, and number of roots/nursery plant (Table
Mean, standard deviation, and range of morphological characters recorded in nursery plants derived from cuttings for five fig cultivars.
Characters | Mean ± standard error | Standard deviation | Range |
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% Root emergence (RE %) | 48.00 ± 7.86 | 24.85 | 10–90 |
Number of emerged buds/nursery plant (NB) | 0.54 ± 0.13 | 0.89 | 0–3 |
Length of nursery plant (LP cm) | 28.08 ± 2.23 | 15.47 | 4–70 |
Diameter of nursery plant (DP mm) | 11.96 ± 0.92 | 6.43 | 5–45 |
Number of leaves/nursery plant (NL) | 18.96 ± 1.77 | 12.29 | 3–63 |
Cumulative growth of nursery plant (CG cm) | 60.44 ± 2.60 | 18.03 | 32–112 |
Number of roots/nursery plant (NR) | 15.02 ± 1.29 | 8.93 | 1–39 |
The mean values of all morphological characteristics observed were statically different at a 5% level (Table
Means of nursery plants morphological characters studied in five fig cultivars (means of two replications 2009 and 2010).
Cultivar | RE % | NB | LP cm | DP mm | NL | CG cm | NR |
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Bouharrag | 40.00b | 1.25b | 40.50b | 14.75b | 37.13c | 73.50b | 19.25b |
Bayoudhi | 15.00a | 0.67ab | 62.00c | 24.33c | 27.00b | 101.00c | 28.33c |
Jemaâoui | 65.00c | 0.85ab | 21.77a | 9.08ab | 14.23a | 53.62a | 13.23ab |
Rogabi | 65.00c | 0.15a | 20.85a | 8.38a | 14.69a | 53.92a | 9.85a |
Zidi | 55.00bc | 0.09a | 25.82a | 14.18b | 14.18a | 55.64a | 16.55ab |
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2.225 | 3.572 | 12.022 | 8.325 | 11.134 | 11.944 | 4.397 |
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Significance | ** | * | ** | ** | ** | ** | ** |
*, **: significant, high significant at
Different letters in one column indicate differences within cultivars by least significant difference (LSD) test at a significance level of 0.05.
The result of this part can provide that the cultivars choice is very important to produce sufficient amounts of vigorous nursery plants. Furthermore, “Bayoudhi” cultivar is very adapted to agroecological conditions, which can be eventually developed by farmers. Moreover, the length of nursery plant (LP), diameter of nursery plant (DP), and number of roots (NR) are very important quality characters for selection of nursery plants of fig cultivars.
Results of the descriptive data analysis recorded high morphological variation in the plant material derived from the 6 fig cutting types of the cultivar “Bither,” for all the traits. The most widely varied parameters were root emergence percentage (0–90%), length of nursery plant (3–77 cm), and number of roots/nursery plant (0–29 roots) (Table
Mean, standard deviation, and range of morphological characters recorded in fig cutting types in nursery.
Characters | Mean ± standard error | Standard deviation | Range |
---|---|---|---|
% Root emergence (RE %) | 58.38 ± 4.82 | 22.12 | 0–90 |
Number of emerged buds/nursery plant (NB) | 0.72 ± 0.12 | 1.30 | 0–9 |
Length of nursery plant (LP cm) | 23.96 ± 1.66 | 17.97 | 3–77 |
Diameter of nursery plant (DP mm) | 10.80 ± 0.50 | 5.41 | 3–32 |
Number of leaves/nursery plant (NL) | 16.79 ± 0.96 | 10.40 | 2–62 |
Cumulative growth of nursery plant (CG cm) | 63.51 ± 1.78 | 18.77 | 31–105 |
Number of roots/nursery plant (NR) | 9.46 ± 0.60 | 6.33 | 0–29 |
Results of 6 cutting types for the cultivar “Bither” analysis showed a significant difference at a level of 5% in all the studied characters (Table
Means of nursery plants morphological characters studied in six cuttings types of Bither’s fig cultivar (means of two replications 2009 and 2010).
Cutting types | RE % | NB | LP cm | DP mm | NL | CG cm | NR |
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Type 1 | 63.33b | 0.58ab | 19.11a | 8.79a | 14.63a | 53.29a | 4.76a |
Type 2 | 63.33b | 0.21a | 21.58a | 10.16a | 13.58a | 55.21a | 10.89bc |
Type 3 | 83.33b | 0.56ab | 24.52a | 9.68a | 16.04ab | 65.04abc | 10.50bc |
Type 4 | 53.33ab | 0.44ab | 18.19a | 11.81a | 13.75a | 58.29ab | 14.75c |
Type 5 | 50.00ab | 0.73ab | 24.13a | 10.53a | 17.07ab | 77.20c | 9.53b |
Type 6 | 26.67a | 1.38bc | 18.25a | 9.75a | 22.50bc | 69.38bc | 6.38ab |
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3.166 | 2.784 | 3.370 | 3.294 | 2.784 | 4.204 | 4.232 |
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Significance | * | * | ** | ** | * | ** | ** |
Type 1: type cutting of one-year-old shoots, length (30 cm), and diameter (<1.5 cm).
Type 2: type cutting of one-year-old shoots, length (40 cm), and diameter (<1.5 cm).
Type 3: type cutting of one-year-old shoots, length (60 cm), and diameter (<1.5 cm).
Type 4: type cutting of 2-year-old shoots, length (30 cm), and diameter (<1.5 cm).
Type 5: type cutting of 2-year-old shoots, length (40 cm), and diameter (<1.5 cm).
Type 6: type cutting of 2-year-old shoots, length (60 cm), and diameter (>2 cm).
*, **: significant, high significant at
Different letters in one column indicate differences within cutting types by least significant difference (LSD) test at a significance level of 0.05.
The findings of the study put forth that cutting characteristics (length, diameter, and age) affected the growth and quality of fig plants. Moreover, cutting length affected the length (LP) and cumulative growth (CG) of fig nursery plant. The use of long cuttings (40–60 cm) is recommended to produce vigorous fig nursery plants.
The results achieved in this study showed that propagation of fig plant material under field conditions can be applied and should not require sophisticated equipment [
Moreover, the high variation was recorded among the % roots emergences and the other morphological traits within the 5 cultivars (“Bayoudhi,” “Jemâaoui,” “Ragoubi,” “Zidi,” and “Bouharrag”) and between the 6 different types of cuttings (age, length, and diameters) of the cultivar “Bither”. These variations were influenced by ability of cultivar for rooting and characteristics of cuttings (length, diameter, and age) [
Several factors seem to be involved in the improvement of fig hardwood cutting like the use of rooting hormonal treatment [
The present research showed that the hardwood cuttings of local cultivars of figs can be used to propagate material in field conditions. Furthermore, it is possible to obtain vigorous young plants (Length, number of leaves, and cumulative growth) from cuttings of cultivars “Bouharrag” (Caprifig), “Bayoudhi” (Common fig), “Rogabi,” and “Zidi” (Smyrna fig). “Bither’s” rooting ability of the 6 cutting types studied revealed that the cutting type of one-year old characterized by 60 cm of length and diameter of <1.5 cm gave the best percentage of rooting emergence. Also, the best cumulative growth of plant was obtained with the cutting type (2 years old shoots, length (40 cm), and diameter (<1.5 cm)).
The positive aspects of this experiment have demonstrated the suitability of the hardwood cuttings method for vegetative propagation, since the production of fig plants in nursery can be realized and seems to be cheap. This work is supposed to be a preliminary positive contribution in the propagation of fig in nursery which can have practical application for fig horticulturists in the southeast of Tunisia.
The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests regarding the publication of this paper.
The authors are thankful to The Director of Professional Agricultural Training Center (CFPA) El Gordhab—Tataouine (Tunisia) for their help in the orchard. And thanks should be addressed to the field staff of Arid and Oases Cropping Laboratory, Arid Land Institute of Tataouine: Mr. B. Noureddine and Mr. B. Ben Salem for conducting the present research.