cultivation of fig

by Lata Baghel

1. Cultivation of Fig Submitted to- Dr. M.K.Sharma Submitted by- KUMARI LATA

2. BOTANY Common Fig- Ficus carica Family – Moracea Chromosome no.- 56 Origin- West Asia Tree – moderate size ( deciduous in subtropics but perform evergreen in tropic) Leaves – very broad, ovate and long stalked Fruit – multiple fruit, botanically “ Syconium ” Fig leaf Fruit

3. COMPOSITION Pulp – 85% skin – 15% calorific value – High (269 cal) 100g edible portion of dried fig contain. Protein : – 4g Carbohydrate :– 69g Fat :– 1g Calcium :– 200mg Iron :– 4mg Vit . A :– 100IU Thiamine :– 0.1 mg

4. USES of Fig used as luxative and in treatment of skin infection CONSPTION – Fresh, preserved or canned fruit Very much used as a dried fruit Also processed into jelly and paste Latex is used to coagulate milk

5. Types / varieties Based on pollination pattern and sex of flower, there are four types of fig Common fig/ Edible fig Smyrna fig San pedro fig Wild fig/ Capri fig Flower Long styled pistillate flower Long styled, pistillate flower Long styled pistilate flower Short styled pistillate flower with functional male Fruit develop Parthenocarpically After pollination Pollination Self fertile Varieties Conardia Poona Kadata Brown Turkey Mission Adriatic Calimyrna Taranimt Zidi San Pedro King Gentile Lampeiria Samson Stanford Brawley

6. Crop improvement Most of the cultivated varieties originated as chance seedling. They were maintained clonally by rooted cuttings. Major objective of Fig breeding:- - To develop varieties with parthenocarpic fruits having golden or reddish brown skin, amber pulp, distinctive flavour and attractive size and shape. - To develop high yielding variety - Elimination of caprification - Transfer of nematode and insect resistance cherectors from wild fig. At IIHR, Bangalore certain introductions were made and evaluated Ex:- Conardria and Deanna

7. CLIMATE and SOIL It is a subtropical deciduous plant Young trees are susceptible to frost. It can tolerate temp. up to 45°C high humidity cause fruit splitting Arid and semi arid regions ( high summer, temp, enough sunlight, and relative cool winter) are ideal for quality fruit production. Soil- well drained, non alkaline, deep, medium black soils or alluvial clay soil much suitable. Fig tolerate salt and drought condition.

8. PROPAGATION By seed or asexually ( Cutting, layering, grafting and micro-propagation) Common and most successful method is hard wood cutting. It is taken from 1-2 years old shoots Pre girdling of shoots, 30 days before taking the cutting results in quick and increased rooting. Cutting taken from basal portion of crown having short internodes. Air layering on one year old shoots during June Top working done with bark or cleft grafting or patch budding

9. CULTIVATION Planting:- North Indian States:- during early spring ( Propagule are in dormant stage South and West India:- During monsoon After planting irrigation given Spacing:- Usually – 8-10m in square system Present recommonded spacing- 5x5m 2 Poona variety- 2.5x 2.5m 2 Pit size- 60 cm 3 , Dug 15 days before planting Fill with top soil: compost: sand:: 1:1:1 along with 2kg of neem cake/ pit

10. MANURE and FERTILIZER Age of plant Organic manure (kg) Inorganic manure (g) (years) FYM Oil cake ( neem / castor/ pongamiya ) N P K 1-2 15 0.5 75 50 50 3.5 25 1.0 – 1.5 150 100 100 >5 40 2.0 300 200 200

11. TRAINING Trees are trained to a desired height and shape to enhance productivity and facilitate harvesting. Trees are headed back at a height of 1-1.5m and allow growth of side branches .

12. PRUNING Annual pruning recommonded for inducing growth of flowering wood and improving yield and quality Light and heavy pruning is adopted After pruning copper fungicide should be applied on cut surface Notching is another pruning method adopted in variety like Poona fig -This practice increase production and bearing area -In this practice 2.5 cm bark area is removed from base of dormant bud situated at middle region of 8 month old shoot. - Notching cheeks free flow of nutrients and stimulate the bud just below the cut end to produce a fruiting shoot

13. IRRIGATION Fig is drought tolerant but irrigated plants produce good shoot growth and yield Commercial orchard irrigated during summer Flood ( basin diameter- 60cm) or drip system of irrigation is practiced at 1- 12 days interval Excess irrigation cause splitting of fruits and production of insipid fruits Inadequate watering – hardening of fruits and reduction in fruit size

14. Flowering and Fruiting Flowering starts within 3 years. Steady yield is obtained from 5 th yr Economic life period- 40- 45 years W. India – Flowering season- Oct- Nov. N. India – Jan- Feb S. India – two flowering season 1. March- April 2. Oct- Dec. Fruit mature 4-5 months after flowering

15. Fruit development by pollination

16. Harvesting and Yield Fig is climecteric fruit so harvest at fully maturity stage Harvesting indices are disappearance of milky latex at time of plucking, softening of fruit, wilting at neck region, hanging down of fruits, sudden increase in size and opening of ostiole . H arvesting is done by hand either by cutting or twisting neck at stem end If it is grown for dry fruit production, they are allow to ripen and to dry partially on the tree and allow to fall on ground Hence area beneath the tree has been clen and collect the fruits once in 1- 5 days for drying. Avg. Yield - 150-400 fruits /plant

17. Post harvest management Packing:- - Fruits are graded according to weight into three groups viz ; fruit weighing 50g or more, 40- 50g and 30- 40g. - They are packed in corrugated box cartoon and are arranged in double layers, each containing 28 fruits. - Fig leaves are used as cushioning material. Storage - It is a highly perishable fruit so at room temp. it can be stored for few days. - Shelf life can be extended for a week by keeping at 0°C with 85- 90% humidity. - fully mature fig can be either dried or frozen and this will not affect flavour or colour of fruit. - Before drying fruits are fumigated by sulphure and then dried at temp of 70- 72°C Dried Fig

18. Physiological disorders Sun burn- serious problem affecting young trees. The affected parts crack and the bark peels off. Heavy pruning and exposure of branches to sunlight are the causes Fruit splitting- when sudden change in atmospheric humidity and soil moisture level due to rains. Fruit become unfit for consumption as microbes affect exposed pulp. 3. Fruit drop- major factor are excess heat and drought, cold nights, light frost and lack of pollination .

19. . Thanking you