Author(s)

Ahmed Oukabli, Abderrahmane Mekaoui

Plant Breeding and Genetic Resources, Regional Agricultural Research Centre of Meknes, Meknes, Morocco.

Fig (Ficus carica L.) is a deciduous species well adapted to Mediterranean conditions but its chilling requirement is still not well understood. The present study examines the pattern of bud-break in seven fig cultivars over two years under Moroccan conditions. Evaluation of dormancy behavior was made using a biological test known as “single node cuttings” carried out under controlled conditions. The responses of cultivars from Morocco, Italy, Spain and France were assessed. The period from full leaf fall to bud-break was characterized by a small variation (10 - 20 days) which did not appear to reflect the origin of the cultivars. Steady-sates were at high level in the middle of December or in January depending on the year. During the cold period, MTB didn’t exceed 200 days for “Borjassate noire”, “Ournakssi” and “Kadota” and varied from 100 to 128 days for the other cultivars. Therefore, dormancy was not deep and its period was short. Forcing bud during the coldest period allowed to a bud break but it didn’t exceed 10% and dormancy wasn’t complete. Missing bud break wasn’t observed and the geographic origin of examined cultivars didn’t seem to determine the length, and the deepness of bud dormancy. Bud-break occurred within a month of last leaf fall in the cultivars, indicating that they were all suited to commercial production in Morocco. Apparently, bud-break is more reliable in fig than it is in other Rosaceous species in this environment.

Fig; Dormancy; Bud Break; Varieties; Behaviour

A. Oukabli and A. Mekaoui, "Dormancy of Fig Cultivated under Moroccan Conditions," American Journal of Plant Sciences, Vol. 3 No. 4, 2012, pp. 473-479. doi: 10.4236/ajps.2012.34056.