Abstract

VIEIRA, João; RODRIGUES, Dilvia  and  SOUSA*, Rui de. Qualitative characteristics of seven cultivars producing breba figs. Rev. de Ciências Agrárias [online]. 2023, vol.46, n.4, pp.41-50.  Epub Sep 27, 2023. ISSN 0871-018X.  https://doi.org/10.19084/rca.30051.

Some cultivars of fig tree (Ficus carica L.), namely from the San Pedro group, produced a first harvest of figs at the end of spring, known as breba figs. These figs are parthenocarpic and develop on the previous year's branches, producing from May/June to July. As a first harvest at a time of year when the supply of figs is low, breba figs can achieve good prices, making them a profitable option. However, achieving competitive productions depends on using productive cultivars, producing quality figs and adapted to our growing conditions. Faced with the problem of selecting cultivars for new plantations in order to test the agronomic and commercial requirements, seven cultivars producing breba figs were studied for the qualitative traits of greatest interest. Biometric parameters such as weight, fruit diameter, height and peduncle length were evaluated; physico-chemical parameters such as firmness, total soluble solids content (TSS) and colorimetric parameters L*, a*, b*, °hue. Among the quality characteristics evaluated in the fruits, the size, weight, firmness, and the color of the figs played a prominent role in choosing the cultivars to consider for planting. However, the length of the peduncle and the TSS are not so decisive factors, since they did not show differences between the cultivars.

Keywords : Ficus carica L; fig tree; parthenocarpic figs; quality.

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