Valorization of fruits and leaves of Ficus carica L.
The fig tree (Ficus carica L.) is one of the oldest recorded fruit trees in terms of cultivation and domestication history. Native to the Middle East, its cultivation has expanded to Mediterranean and subtropical regions due to its remarkable adaptability to diverse climatic and edaphic conditions....
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| Tipo de recurso: | tesis doctoral |
| Fecha de publicación: | 2025 |
| País: | España |
| Institución: | Universidad Miguel Hernández de Elche |
| Repositorio: | REDIUMH. Depósito Digital de la UMH |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:dnet:rediumh_____::8d2ab6ef4ed77f477ce14a1f59494075 |
| Acceso en línea: | https://hdl.handle.net/11000/39826 |
| Access Level: | acceso abierto |
| Palabra clave: | agricultura tradicional silvicultura ganaderia pesca CDU::6 - Ciencias aplicadas |
| Sumario: | The fig tree (Ficus carica L.) is one of the oldest recorded fruit trees in terms of cultivation and domestication history. Native to the Middle East, its cultivation has expanded to Mediterranean and subtropical regions due to its remarkable adaptability to diverse climatic and edaphic conditions. Figs have been an integral part of the human diet since ancient times and are regarded as a symbol of health. Their therapeutic properties have been utilized in various traditional medicinal practices, such as Ayurveda, Unani, and Siddha. Certain varieties are bifera, capable of producing two harvests per year: brebas and figss. The first harvest, known as breba, does not occur in all varieties and develops from buds formed in the previous year, often located at leaf axils. These buds remain dormant until the following spring. Various environmental factors, such as winter temperature and humidity, significantly influence brebas loss. Additionally, since breba begin developing before leaves emerge, there is direct competition between foliage and fruit for resources. Consequently, breba are valued for their exclusivity and limited production. In contrast, figs develop from buds at leaf axils of shoots grown in the current year and is harvested between July and September. The main differences between brebas and figs and stem from the distinct climatic conditions under which each develops. The motivation for this doctoral thesis originates from my experience as a fig farmer. In Spain, fig cultivation is concentrated in various provinces, with Extremadura being notable for dried fig production and Alicante for breba production. In Alicante province, the most commonly cultivated variety is Colar. However, the economic viability of the second harvest (figs) is constrained by climatic conditions and high harvesting costs. As a result, between 50% and 60% of the total production remains unharvested and unmarketed. The underutilization of these fruits represents a substantial economic loss, given their high nutritional value and bioactive compound content, which could be harnessed across various industries, including food, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. It is crucial to highlight that the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) advocates for responsible production and consumption, with the objective of halving global per capita food waste. The overarching goal of this doctoral thesis is the physicochemical characterization of the most commercially relevant fig varieties in Spain, as well as the development and characterization of novel fig-based products. |
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