The New American Figs

American Fig Breeding: Achievements and Prospects

Ira J. Condit still holds the record for breeding the largest number of fig varieties--and is likely to hold that record for the foreseeable future. Growers and enthusiasts lack the political influence needed to obtain government funding for research and breeding since figs are a very minor fruit crop compared with apples, pears, peaches, plums, citrus, bananas, and even pineapples. The resources of commercial growers and enthusiasts are too modest to finance more than minor research into fig pests and diseases. There is very little money for breeding new varieties. Louise Ferguson is a researcher involved in the only program I am aware of--breeding a replacement for Calimyrna (Sari Lop). Those interested can check out her report latest report at: http://fruitsandnuts.ucdavis.edu/louise/louise_f.html.

Fortunately, the efforts of Condit, his co-workers and a few other researchers produced a substantial number of new varieties in the 35 years between 1956 and 1991. Here is a listing of 231 new varieties not included in Condit's Fig Varieties:

• B.A. 1—A variety said to have been found on an unknown Texas A&M graduate student's abandoned test plot during the trials of Alma. Large and of good quality in the Gulf Coast states. May be less hardy than other varieties.
• 276-49--In the trade, but not an official release from a breeding program.
• Alma--A Texas A&M hybrid of Allison (a synonym for Vernino) with Hamma, a North African caprifig with mixed F. carica/F. palmata parentage. Excellent quality, but very late ripening. Released in 1975.
• Conadria--The first of Condit's hybrid releases (using Adriatic and an edible caprifig). Released in 1957.
• Deanna--A Condit hybrid. In the trade, but apparently never officially released.
• DiRedo--One of Condit's favorites and one intended for commercial growers, also an Adriatic cross. Released in 1957. Not notably vigorous and not a commercial success.
• Enderud--An edible caprifig with very good flavor from the Riverside, CA program. Named for Julius E. Enderud, one of the researchers. Carried on the UCR Davis inventory as 228-20
• Excel--A Condit hybrid, using Kadota as the mother, named and released by Bill Storey in 1975. Excellent quality.
• Flanders--Another Condit hybrid from Adriatic, released 1965. Excelllent quality. Rather unlike Condit's other productions since it is a striped fig with a long neck.
• Golden Celeste--In the trade, but not an official release from the Lousiaina State University (LSU) breeding program.
• Gulbun--A Condit hybrid, in the trade since 1971. Available in the trade and in the UCR Davis inventory as 284-11.
• Hollier--In the trade, but not an official release from the LSU program. (May be the same as Guilbeau.)
• Improved Celeste-- Said to be better than the original, not yet released officially fromf the LSU program
• Jurupa--A very large greenish yellow fig with amber pulp. The brebas are particularly large. A Condit hybrid selected and named by Enderud. Good flavor.
• K-7-11--In the trade and said to be from Condit's breeding program.
• LSU Everbearing--In the trade, but not an official release from LSU.
• LSU Gold--In the trade, but not an official release from LSU. Reportedly a very fine fig.
• LSU Improved Celeste--No officially released from LSU. Reportedly the best LSU fig.
• LSU Purple--An O'Rourke hybrid of Hunt and a California caprifig identified as "C-1," released by LSU in 1991. Rather variable in quality and hardiness, but when it is good it is really good.
• Nardine--Another Condit hybrid. Yellow skin. Large with good flavor.
• Saleeb--A second edible caprifig with very good flavor. Named for Wadie F. Saleeb, one of the Riverside research team formed by Ira Condit and his successor, Bill Storey. Listed in the UCR Davis inventory as 271-1
• Tena--A medium yellow fig with amber to pink pulp. Very sweet, but not particularly rich in south Georgia. A Condit hybrid using Sari Lop (Calimyrna) as the mother.
• Yvonne--Still another Condit hybrid. Yellow skin. Large with good flavor.

Fig Import Wish List

There are many good to excellent figs which have never been successfully introduced into the U.S. Condit bred a rather large number of new hybrids himself, but he also introduced or arranged the introduction of a number of good varieties, including Zidi and Marabout. There are still many other good ones left to import.

It is legal to import fig cuttings and plants, but one must obtain and complete an importation permit application/quarantine agreement with the U. S. Department of Agriculture. Additional information is available at the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service web site, www.aphis.usda.gov/ppq/bats/permits/q37/plants.html. (Ever notice how long URLS can get?)

I identified some thirty-seven varieties after a fairly careful review of Condit's comments in Fig Varieties: A Monograph. Other enthusiasts would, I am sure, find other varieties. Arranged by place of origin, the varieties I would like to see imported are:

© Copyright, Ray Givan, 1997, 1998. Permission to download and print for personal use is granted to viewer. All other rights are reserved.