Evaluation of the Characteristics of Native Wild Himalayan Fig (Ficus palmata Forsk.) from Pakistan as a Potential Species for Sustainable Fruit Production

Abstract

Wild Himalayan figs (Ficus palmata Forsk.), native to East Asia and the Himalayan region, are closely related to the well-known cultivated fig (Ficus carica L.), which is grown mainly in the Mediterranean region. The Pakistani state of Azad Jammu and Kashmir has a rich variety of figs. However, no comprehensive study has been carried out to utilise the diversity of these wild figs for possible use in sustainable fruit production. Therefore, the present study was designed to assess the variability of 35 wild fig accessions using quantitative and qualitative traits. Descriptive statistics were used to measure quantitative characteristics, while the coefficient of variance (CV %) was analysed using SAS® version 9.1. A principal component analysis (PCA) and multivariate analysis were performed using R Studio (v1.1.4). Pearson correlation coefficients between characteristics were obtained using SPSS software. The studied accessions showed high variability and the coefficient of variation (CV) ranged from 4.46–14.81%. Days to maturity varied from 71 to 86, leaf area from 38.55 to 90.06 cm2. The fruit length, fruit diameter and fruit weight ranged from 11.25 to 29.85 mm, 11.85 to 27.49 mm and 2.65 to 9.66 g, respectively. The photosynthetic activity and total chlorophyll content also varied from 7.94 to 10.22 μmol CO2 m−2s−1 and 37.11 to 46.48 μgml−1. In most of the fig accessions studied, apical dominance was found to be ‘absent’ while fruit shape was observed to be ‘globular’. A strong correlation was observed between all the studied characteristics. In the PCA analysis, all 35 fig accessions were distributed in four quadrants and showed a great diversity. This could be a valuable gene pool for future breeding studies and provide improved quality varieties. Wild Himalayan figs from the wild are well adapted to local pedoclimatic conditions and, combined with easy propagation and production can contribute to the local economy and have a significant impact on the socio-economic and ecological balance. The results of this study show high variability in some of the studied traits of 35 accessions from different parts of Northeast Pakistan, indicating their good potential for further enhancement and utilisation in sustainable agricultural production.

Evaluation of genetic diversity of figs (Ficus carica L.) in Sulaymaniyah governorate using morphological, pomological and specific molecular markers

“…As well as leaf length and width at the range of (7.19 to 12.89 cm), and (6.47 to 10.12 cm) successively. The highest leaf petiole length and thickness was 38.28 mm and 2.99 mm, lowest value was 17.49 and 1.33 mm respectively(Khan et al, 2022), otherwise, these results nearly with our results since in our results, the wild g types were also existed.The wide range of variability found among the g accessions from the fruit traits. The results so con rm with the results found byAter et al, (2008) that the highest fruit weight value was 77.22g and lowest was 11.40g, as well as the ostiole diameter was ranged between (1.9 and 10 mm).…”

“…The fruit length and width were changed from (21.34 to 48.83 mm) and (25.93 to 61.58 mm) respectively. In addition, fruit stalk length was varied from (2.95 to 16.3 mm) and diameter from (2.92 to 7.96mm) Khan et al, (2022),. showed the results less and slightly close to our results, that reported that the lowest and highest fruit weight among 35 wild g types was 2.65 and 9.66 g, and fruit length and width ranged from (11.25 to 29.85 mm) and (11.85 to 27.49 mm).…”

Sustainable Fruit Growing: From Orchard to Table-Editorial Commentary

“…are well adapted to local pedoclimatic conditions and, combined with easy propagation and production, can contribute to the local economy and have a significant impact on the socioeconomic and ecological balance. The results showed high variability in some of the studied traits of 35 accessions from different parts of northeast Pakistan, indicating their good potential for further improvement and use in sustainable agricultural production [12]. Results from the relatively limited number of sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L. ssp.…”

Green Synthesis and Characterization of Silver Nanoparticles from Ficus palmata Forssk. and Evaluation of their Antibacterial Activity Against Resistant Bacteria

“…Several species of Ficus are utilized in traditional medicine for their anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and tonic properties. These species have a long history of being used as medicinal remedies (Kitajima et al, 1999;Ogunlaja et al, 2022;Khan et al, 2022). Ficus extracts have been reported to have potential benefits in treating a variety of diseases, including epilepsy, jaundice, influenza, whooping cough, tonsillitis, bronchitis, enteritis, bacillary dysentery, toothache, and bruises (Kitajima et al, 1999).…”