Growth Pattern and Fruit Characteristics of Six Common Fig (Ficus carica L.) Cultivars in Jordan

This research aimed to study the growth pattern of shoot, fruit and drupelet, and fruit characteristics of six common fig cultivars Ajlouni, Byadi, Khartamani, Khdari, Mwazi, and Zraki. Periodic measurements showed that the growth of the fruit and drupelet are characterized by two periods of rapid growth separated by a period of slow growth. Many fruit characteristics, which were fruit weight, volume, width and length, TSS%, TA%, fruit stalk length, peel thickness and pistil length, were measured and were in the range of 9.3-27.6 g, 9.3-29.0 ml, 2.59-3.78 cm, 2.48-5.03 cm, 21.46-26.75%, 0.28-0.59%, 6.9-16.4 mm, 1.87-3.16 mm and 3.89-4.74 mm, respectively. In addition, fruit skin color was yellowish green in Byadi , green in Mwazi , Khdari and Ajlouni , and purple in Khartamani and Zraki . Regarding shoot length, the six cultivars grew in the same pattern. There were two growth phases, the first growth phase continued for about 6 weeks during spring, with a very rapid shoot length increase, and the second one was characterized by quite totally reduced shoot length and continued to the end of growing season. Moreover, the apical dominance was very strong in Zraki , strong in Khdari , moderate in Byadi and Mwazi and moderate to weak in Ajlouni ; while it was weak in Khartamani . Application of these results in improving fig tree training is discussed