| 20080155723 | Fig Tree Named 'Sequoia' | 2008-06-26 | Doyle | PLT/211 |
| PP12828 | Fig tree named ‘Violetta’ | 2002-08-06 | Plattner | PLT/211 |
| PP11347 | Ficus plant named `WGN 56` | 2000-04-11 | van Geest | PLT/211 |
| PP11325 | Ficus plant named `Lauren's Delight` | 2000-04-04 | Nielsen | PLT/211 |
Botanical/commercial classification: (Ficus carica)/new fig variety.
Variety denomination: ‘Sequoia’.
Figs are a popular food item. The new ‘Sequoia’ cultivar described herein has been developed for the fresh market. The fruit is yellow-green in skin color with reddish-amber pulp. This skin color is competitive with the yellow-green ‘Calimyrna’ (unpatented), ‘Kadota’ (unpatented) and ‘Sierra’ (unpatented) but complementary to the violet-black colored ‘CA Brown Turkey’ (unpatented) and ‘Mission’ (unpatented). The ‘Sequoia’ is a common type fig. This gives it an advantage over the ‘Smyrna’ (unpatented) type ‘Calimyrna’ in productivity and production efficiency. The Breba crop of ‘Sequoia’ ranges from light to medium in volume. The Brebas are large in size with very good quality. The production of commercial Brebas gives the ‘Sequoia’ an advantage over the ‘Calimyrna’, ‘CA Brown Turkey’ and ‘Sierra’ cultivars that either develop very few or no Brebas at all. The second crop of ‘Sequoia’ is abundant with large to medium size. The ‘Sequoia’ appears to maintain fruit size well into the fall in contrast to the small late-season fruit size of the ‘Mission’ and ‘Kadota’ and the absence of fruit on the ‘Calimyrna’. The ostiole or eye of the ‘Sequoia’ is very tight, similar to the ‘Sierra’ and ‘Mission’ but substantially tighter than the ‘Calimyrna’, ‘CA Brown Turkey’ and ‘Kadota’. The fruit flavor and quality of the ‘Sequoia’ is as good as or better than all of the five established cultivars listed here with the exception of the ‘Calimyrna’. The ‘Sequoia’, which has ‘Calimyrna’ in its pedigree, approaches the flavor of ‘Calimyrna’, but the ‘Calimyrna’, with all of its many production problems, still retains its position as the premier quality fig.
The new ‘Sequoia’ fig variety can be characterized as a high quality, medium to large size, yellow-green skinned fig of the “common” type, developed for use in the fresh market fig industry. The ‘Sequoia’ tree is of medium vigor and size and is a regular and productive bearer, developing both a Breba and second crop in most years. The ‘Sequoia’ has a tight ostiole that substantially restricts the entry of most insects into the interior of the fig fruit. In comparison with the ‘Tena’ (unpatented) parent cultivar, the ‘Sequoia’ is substantially larger in size and has a more prolific Breba crop. The larger size of the second crop ‘Sequoia’ fruit allows it to be harvested later into the fall when the decreased size of other cultivars such as ‘Tena’ precludes their use in the fresh market.
The new fig selection ‘Sequoia’ is the result of a controlled cross, performed in June of 1992. The hybridization site was located in a small planting of collected fig cultivars growing near the town of Clovis in Fresno County, Calif. The cross was made between the commercial cultivar ‘Tena’ as the female (seed) parent and pollen from a proprietary caprifig (unpatented) identified as ‘D3-11’ as the male parent. The ‘Tena’ fruit was covered with a cloth organdy sleeve cage well in advance of fruit receptivity, in order to exclude any insects that might enter the fig fruit and effect unwanted pollination. At the receptive stage, the cage was removed from the developing ‘Tena’ fruit, after which pollen from the ‘D3-11’ was introduced into the interior of the fruit. The sleeve cage was then replaced over the fruit and remained in place until the fruit matured.
Hybrid seed was extracted from the mature dried fruit in fall of 1992. The seed was then planted in small growing containers in a greenhouse in Parlier, Fresno County, Calif. in early spring of 1993. By late spring of 1993, the developing seedlings were transplanted into seedling rows in the field in Parlier. A total of 918 hybrid fig seedlings were planted in 1993, 353 of which were from the ‘Tena’ by ‘D3-11’ cross. From among the seedlings in this population, the seedling identified as ‘Sequoia’ first fruited and was first selected in September of 1998.
The first propagation of the ‘Sequoia’ selection occurred in spring of 2001 in a fig selection block in Parlier. The selection was grafted onto an existing fig tree (Ficus carica) that was 4 years of age at that time. The ‘Sequoia’ produced a few fruit the following year in September of 2002, and produced a normal crop of fruit in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006. The characteristics of the propagated tree are identical in all aspects of fruit and vegetation to the original seedling. The name ‘Sequoia’ has been given to this new cultivar.
FIG. 1 shows ‘Sequoia’ second (main) crop fruit, displaying typical fruit color at maturity and the distinctive tight fruit ostiole.
FIG. 2 shows ‘Sequoia’ fig fruit.
The following plant description was prepared during the 2005 growing season. Plant material and fruit of the new cultivar were obtained from the original first propagated tree in the fig selection block located, in Parlier, Fresno County, Calif. Age of the rootstock fig in 2005 was approximately ten years. Age of the ‘Sequoia’ grafts on the stock was approximately five years. Color definitions used in this description are from “The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart”, 3rd edition published at London, England in 1995.
Many tiny, pedicellate fig flowers develop within each fig syconium as figs initiate along the growing shoot throughout the season. These flowers become receptive when each developing syconium is only about 1 to 2 cm in diameter. The florets have a five-part perianth and are unisexual, with long-styled pistillate flowers. Several types of figs have been identified pomologically and the ‘Sequoia’ falls into the “common” or “persistent” category. This signifies that the fig does not need to be pollinated (or caprified) in order to set and mature fruit.
Comparisons
A “2002 Statistical Review” published by the California Fig Advisory Board and California Fig Institute at Fresno lists seven cultivars used primarily (although in some cases not exclusively) for dried whole figs and fig paste. These seven cultivars are ‘Calimyrna’ (6,559 acres), a four cultivar grouping identified as ‘Adriatics’ (unpatented) but including ‘Conadria’ (unpatented), ‘Adriatic’, ‘Di Redo’ (unpatented) and ‘Tena’ (3,364 acres in combination), ‘Kadota’ (1105 acres) and ‘Mission’ (3702 acres). Two additional cultivars are used in California primarily for the fresh market. These are the ‘California Brown Turkey’ (about 2000 acres) and a 2005 University of California release, the ‘Sierra’ fig (about 200 acres). The above nine cultivars differ substantially from one another in aspects of suitability, horticultural type and fruit characteristics. The ‘Sequoia’ fig is being released for use in the fresh market. Although of good quality when dried, it develops both a dark skin and a dark pulp color that limits its acceptability as a dried product. Of the above nine cultivars, only five are sold fresh. These are the ‘CA Brown Turkey’, ‘Sierra’, ‘Calimyrna’, ‘Mission’ and ‘Kadota’. Only these five will be compared, as follows, to the ‘Sequoia’. The four ‘Adriatic’ class figs are used only as whole dried figs or fig paste. All are of too small a size for the fresh market.
Horticultural Types
Two horticultural types of figs are found in the California industry. The first of these, the ‘Smyrna’ type fig, needs to be pollinated (caprified) in order to set fruit that will persist on the tree until maturity. The ‘Calimyrna’ is the only cultivar of this type grown commercially for fresh consumption in California. All of the other four fresh market figs listed above, as well as the ‘Sequoia’, are of the “common” type. These common types do not need to be pollinated in order to set and mature fruit. The advantages of the common type figs over the ‘Smyrna’ type are substantial. A common type fig grower does not need to maintain caprifig trees or to buy caprifigs from other growers, does not need to treat the caprifigs to disinfect the wasps (the pollen vectors) living in the caprifigs, does not need to distribute the caprifigs throughout the ‘Calimyrna’ orchard and does not have to deal with the variables or the costs of the caprification process. Climatic factors such as heat, cold, rain, wind and disease can have a substantial impact on the success of the insect vector of the pollen and the eventual level of productivity of the ‘Calimyrna’ crop. A good ‘Calimyrna’ orchard often produces only in the 0.5 to 1.0 ton of dried fruit range in comparison to at least twice (sometimes three times) that tonnage from common types. Were it not for the excellent quality of the ‘Calimyrna’ product, when well grown, it would probably not be planted in California at all.
Usage
The ‘CA Brown Turkey’ is grown almost exclusively for the fresh market. It does not dry well. The ‘Calimyrna’, ‘Mission’ and ‘Sierra’ are dual-purpose figs, all three dry well, with some growers often directing part of the crop to the fresh market. The ‘Kadota’ is a multiple use cultivar that can be dried, canned and picked for the fresh market successfully.
Fruit Characteristics of the Five Fresh Market Figs Grown in California
The ‘Calimyrna’ fig is a green-yellow to yellow skinned fig with amber pulp. As noted above, the cultivar requires caprification to set a crop. The first (Breba) crop drops without coming to maturity because caprifigs containing pollen and the vector wasp are not available at the time the ‘Calimyrna’ Brebas require pollination. The second crop is abundant but of limited duration (from late August to late September in Fresno County). Fruit set coincides with the mid-summer (or profichi) flight of the fig wasp. When the flight is complete, no more fruit is set for that season. Early in maturity of the second crop, fruit size is large, although size can drop off in late September. The size of the ‘Calimyrna’ fruit eye (or ostiole) is the largest of all the commercial cultivars and can range from 2.2 to 3.5 mm, allowing substantial amounts of internal insect infestation and spoilage. The cultivar is also prone to large numbers of eye splits during periods of high humidity, cool weather or rain. Fruit quality, when the fruit is grown well, sets the standard for excellence.
The ‘California Brown Turkey’ is a purple-violet colored fruit with areas of yellow to yellow-green visible, especially over the fruit neck and near the fruit stem. Pulp color is a strawberry red. This cultivar is of the common type, not needing caprification. The ‘CA Brown Turkey’ can set a small crop of large sized first crop (Breba) fruit. As grown in California, however, the tree is severely pruned in the winter to keep it short in height and to facilitate hand harvesting of the large second crop from the ground. This pruning essentially eliminates the first crop. The second crop is abundant and the fruit is large and retains its large size well into the harvest season. Since the ‘CA Brown Turkey’ is a common type fig, once fruit production begins in late August, fruit will continue to develop and mature until fall. Production ceases only when the orchard dries out and the tree stops producing extension growth, or when a weather event (rain, frost, etc. . . . ) damages the fruit or sends the tree into dormancy. The fruit ostiole is relatively large and in some locations the fruit can be subject to insect infestation and souring. Fruit quality is good when harvested with sufficient maturity.
The ‘Mission’ fig is a violet-black colored fig with the coloration usually covering the entire fruit surface. Pulp color is a strawberry red. This cultivar is a common type fig not needing caprification. The cultivar usually sets a good crop of Breba fruit that are large in size and of very good quality. These ‘Mission’ Brebas are often harvested from orchards that have been established to produce fruit for drying. Such trees are often very large and picking can be difficult and expensive. The ‘Mission’ second crop is abundant and also of very good quality. Fruit size of the second crop is large enough to pack fresh for a week or two, but then size diminishes rapidly, eliminating its use for the fresh market. The fruit ostiole of both the Breba and second crop is quite small and fruit spoilage is usually not a problem. Fruit quality of both crops is very good.
The ‘Kadota’ fig is a medium sized greenish-yellow skinned fruit that is grown only in limited quantity for the California fresh market. Pulp color is amber. The ‘Kadota’ is a common type fig. Production of a Breba crop can be variable, from light to good in volume. The second crop is abundant but most fruit is too small to be valuable for picking fresh. Towards the end of the season many small, dry, commercially worthless fruit, known as “puffballs”, can be present. The fruit ostiole is medium in size, partially restricting insect access. Fruit quality of the Brebas and second crop is sweet and good.
The ‘Sierra’ fig is a cultivar, released for planting to California growers by the University of California in 2005. Although developed as a high quality fig for drying, initial plantings are being made for the fresh market so that the new cultivar appears to be suitable for both purposes. Skin color of the ‘Sierra’ is a yellow-green and pulp color is amber. The ‘Sierra’ is a common type fig. The Breba crop of ‘Sierra’ to date does not appear to have commercial value. The Breba crop has been light and the figs produced have not been particularly large or highly flavored. The second crop, however, is abundant. The fruit is medium to large in size and holds fruit size well into the fall. The fruit ostiole is very tight, effectively restricting insect access to the fruit interior. Fruit flavor is very good.
‘Sequoia’ Comparison
The new ‘Sequoia’ cultivar described herein has been developed for the fresh market. The second or main crop fruit is yellow-green in skin color with reddish-amber pulp. This skin color is competitive with the yellow-green ‘Calimyrna’, ‘Kadota’ and ‘Sierra’ but complementary to the violet-black colored ‘CA Brown Turkey’ and ‘Mission’. The ‘Sequoia’ is a common type fig. This gives it an advantage over the ‘Smyrna’ type ‘Calimyrna’ in productivity and production efficiency, as well as in the duration of cropping in any one season. Harvest of the ‘Sequoia’ will extend substantially longer into the fall then ‘Calimyrna’ harvest. The small ostiole of ‘Sequoia’ and the absence of the fig wasp, required for set of ‘Calimyrna’ fruit, allows for lowered insect and disease infestation in the ‘Sequoia’ fruit in comparison to ‘Calimyrna’, resulting in the production of greater numbers of merchantable figs. The Breba crop of ‘Sequoia’ ranges from light to medium in volume. The Brebas are large in size with very good quality. The production of commercial Brebas gives the ‘Sequoia’ an advantage over the ‘Calimyrna’, ‘CA Brown Turkey’ and ‘Sierra’ cultivars that either develop very few or no Brebas at all. The greenish to green-bronze colored Brebas of the ‘Sequoia’ will offer a color, size and type of fig that is not presently found in commercial markets. The second crop of ‘Sequoia’ is abundant with large to medium size. The ‘Sequoia’ appears to maintain fruit size well into the fall in contrast to the small late-season fruit size of the ‘Mission’ and ‘Kadota’. The ostiole or eye of the ‘Sequoia’ is very tight, similar to the ‘Sierra’ and ‘Mission’ but tighter than the ‘CA Brown Turkey’ and ‘Kadota’. The fruit flavor and quality of the ‘Sequoia’ is as good as or better than all of the five established cultivars listed here with the exception of the ‘Calimyrna’. The ‘Sequoia’, which has ‘Calimyrna’ in its pedigree, approaches the flavor of ‘Calimyrna’, but the ‘Calimyrna’, with all of its many production problems, still retains its position as the premier quality fig. Trees of the ‘Sequoia’ are moderate in size, substantially lower in vigor than the ‘Sierra’ cultivar that is the ‘Sequoia's’ most likely competitor. The smaller size of the ‘Sequoia’ tree will enable lower picking costs in comparison to the eventual harvest costs associated with the large vigorous ‘Sierra’ tree.