Orchard management and inventory of Moroccan local varieties of fig (Ficus carica L.) in four main production sites, Chefchaouen, El Jadida, Ouezzane and Taounate provinces

Abstract

The present study conducted in four production sites belonging to the provinces of Chefchaouen (Beni Ahmed), El Jadida (Ouled Frej), Ouezzane (Zoumi) and Taounate (Bouhouda) aims to characterize the local fig varieties planted, to explore typology of the farms and training systems applied, and to identify the varieties of great value for further projects. To achieve these goals, we conducted a field survey and prospection on a sample of 72 farms in the sites considered, the characterization of the varieties was accomplished by laboratory analysis of leaf and fruit samples. Results showed that farm area having more than 5 ha represents 20% in Ouled Frej, 11% in Bouhouda and Beni Ahmed and only 5% in Zoumi. The age of fig-tree orchards averaged 15 years in Ouled Frej, 37 years in Zoumi, and Beni Ahmed and 43 years in Bouhouda. Training system is more intensive in Ouled Frej orchards by the practice of irrigation and the use of fertilizers and chemical treatments for plant protection, because almost all fruit is destined for fresh market-figs. However, in the other sites located in mountain areas, figs are mostly marketed as dried fruit, because orchards are land locked. There were 43 varieties identified, 3 in Ouled Frej, 11 in Beni Ahmed, 11 in Bouhouda and 19 in Zoumi. The Principal component analysis (PCA) and agglomerative hierarchical clustering (AHC) have shown similarities between some varieties (synonymous). The varieties recommended for future fig tree development programs are: Messari (Homran / Lamtel / Mtioui), Fassi, Ghouddane, Ghani and Lamdar for the production of the first crop fresh figs; Messari, Ghouddane, Fassi. Lassoune, Masfah, Aouad and Hamri for the production of fresh autumn figs; and Nabout, Koté, Masfah, Messari, Ghouddane and Fassi for production of autumn dried figs.

Keywords

• fig tree
• variety
• drying
• cultural practices
• marketing
• common fig