Description of <i>Ficus carica</i> L. Italian Cultivars II: Genetic and Chemical Analysis

<i>Ficus carica</i> L., present in Italy since ancient times, is represented by numerous cultivars grown in both southern and central regions. In recent years, local accessions, as a source of genetic biodiversity, have gained increasing interest for both genetic conservation and their a...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Raffaella Petruccelli, Cristiana Giordano, Deborah Beghè, Lorenzo Arcidiaco, Alessandra Bonetti, Francesca Ieri, Margherita Rodolfi, Tommaso Ganino
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Plants
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/8/1238
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849713395799949312
author Raffaella Petruccelli
Cristiana Giordano
Deborah Beghè
Lorenzo Arcidiaco
Alessandra Bonetti
Francesca Ieri
Margherita Rodolfi
Tommaso Ganino
author_facet Raffaella Petruccelli
Cristiana Giordano
Deborah Beghè
Lorenzo Arcidiaco
Alessandra Bonetti
Francesca Ieri
Margherita Rodolfi
Tommaso Ganino
author_sort Raffaella Petruccelli
collection DOAJ
description <i>Ficus carica</i> L., present in Italy since ancient times, is represented by numerous cultivars grown in both southern and central regions. In recent years, local accessions, as a source of genetic biodiversity, have gained increasing interest for both genetic conservation and their agronomic characteristics, which are well suited for ‘sustainable agriculture’. Based on these considerations, we conducted a parallel study combining the genetic analysis (SSRs marker) and chemical profiling (polyphenols and antioxidant capacity) of fig leaves to characterize 15 cultivars of the Tuscany region. A genetic analysis performed using seven SSR oligonucleotide primers successfully allowed the discrimination of the cultivars studied, with primers MFC2, MFC3, and LMFC30 exhibiting the highest polymorphism. The phytochemical profiling of the leaves, conducted by HPLC-DAD-TOF-MS, revealed 17 phenolic compounds, among which caffeic acid derivatives were the most abundant. The psolaren compound was absent only in Gigante di Carmignano cv. The antiradical capacity varied among cultivars, with Perticone, Brogiotto Nero, and Paradiso exhibiting the highest antiradical capacity. Additionally, Brogiotto Bianco, Corbo, Dottato, Paradiso, Pecciolo Nero, and Verdino contained the highest concentrations of total sugars. Statistically significant differences were observed in total polyphenol content (values ranging from 14.1 to 36.6 mgGAE/gDW) and in flavonoid content (ranging from 25.7 to 52.3 mgQE/gDW). In terms of sugars, the sum of fructose, glucose, and sucrose ranged from 20.60 (Bianco di Carmignano) to 49.24 mg g<sup>−1</sup> (Verdino), with fructose present in the highest amounts. In conclusion, the 15 cultivars were completely characterized genetically and chemically, offering valuable insights for both conservation strategies and agricultural applications.
format Article
id doaj-art-c99bccf281b14d5bbddf96d885866082
institution DOAJ
issn 2223-7747
language English
publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Plants
spelling doaj-art-c99bccf281b14d5bbddf96d8858660822025-08-20T03:13:58ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472025-04-01148123810.3390/plants14081238Description of <i>Ficus carica</i> L. Italian Cultivars II: Genetic and Chemical AnalysisRaffaella Petruccelli0Cristiana Giordano1Deborah Beghè2Lorenzo Arcidiaco3Alessandra Bonetti4Francesca Ieri5Margherita Rodolfi6Tommaso Ganino7Institute of BioEconomy, CNR, Via Madonna del Piano 10, Sesto Fiorentino, 50019 Florence, ItalyInstitute of BioEconomy, CNR, Via Madonna del Piano 10, Sesto Fiorentino, 50019 Florence, ItalyEconomics and Management Department, University of Parma, Via J.F. Kennedy 6, 43125 Parma, ItalyInstitute of BioEconomy, CNR, Via Madonna del Piano 10, Sesto Fiorentino, 50019 Florence, ItalyResearch Institute on Terrestrial Ecosystems, National Research Council (CNR-IRET), Via Madonna del Piano n. 10, Sesto Fiorentino, 50019 Florence, ItalyInstitute of Biosciences and Bioresources (CNR-IBBR), Via Madonna del Piano n. 10, Sesto Fiorentino, 50019 Florence, ItalyFood and Drug Department, University of Parma, Parco Area Delle Scienze, 27/a, 43124 Parma, ItalyFood and Drug Department, University of Parma, Parco Area Delle Scienze, 27/a, 43124 Parma, Italy<i>Ficus carica</i> L., present in Italy since ancient times, is represented by numerous cultivars grown in both southern and central regions. In recent years, local accessions, as a source of genetic biodiversity, have gained increasing interest for both genetic conservation and their agronomic characteristics, which are well suited for ‘sustainable agriculture’. Based on these considerations, we conducted a parallel study combining the genetic analysis (SSRs marker) and chemical profiling (polyphenols and antioxidant capacity) of fig leaves to characterize 15 cultivars of the Tuscany region. A genetic analysis performed using seven SSR oligonucleotide primers successfully allowed the discrimination of the cultivars studied, with primers MFC2, MFC3, and LMFC30 exhibiting the highest polymorphism. The phytochemical profiling of the leaves, conducted by HPLC-DAD-TOF-MS, revealed 17 phenolic compounds, among which caffeic acid derivatives were the most abundant. The psolaren compound was absent only in Gigante di Carmignano cv. The antiradical capacity varied among cultivars, with Perticone, Brogiotto Nero, and Paradiso exhibiting the highest antiradical capacity. Additionally, Brogiotto Bianco, Corbo, Dottato, Paradiso, Pecciolo Nero, and Verdino contained the highest concentrations of total sugars. Statistically significant differences were observed in total polyphenol content (values ranging from 14.1 to 36.6 mgGAE/gDW) and in flavonoid content (ranging from 25.7 to 52.3 mgQE/gDW). In terms of sugars, the sum of fructose, glucose, and sucrose ranged from 20.60 (Bianco di Carmignano) to 49.24 mg g<sup>−1</sup> (Verdino), with fructose present in the highest amounts. In conclusion, the 15 cultivars were completely characterized genetically and chemically, offering valuable insights for both conservation strategies and agricultural applications.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/8/1238fig treeSSRspolyphenols compositionantioxidant activitysugarsfig biodiversity
spellingShingle Raffaella Petruccelli
Cristiana Giordano
Deborah Beghè
Lorenzo Arcidiaco
Alessandra Bonetti
Francesca Ieri
Margherita Rodolfi
Tommaso Ganino
Description of <i>Ficus carica</i> L. Italian Cultivars II: Genetic and Chemical Analysis
Plants
fig tree
SSRs
polyphenols composition
antioxidant activity
sugars
fig biodiversity
title Description of <i>Ficus carica</i> L. Italian Cultivars II: Genetic and Chemical Analysis
title_full Description of <i>Ficus carica</i> L. Italian Cultivars II: Genetic and Chemical Analysis
title_fullStr Description of <i>Ficus carica</i> L. Italian Cultivars II: Genetic and Chemical Analysis
title_full_unstemmed Description of <i>Ficus carica</i> L. Italian Cultivars II: Genetic and Chemical Analysis
title_short Description of <i>Ficus carica</i> L. Italian Cultivars II: Genetic and Chemical Analysis
title_sort description of i ficus carica i l italian cultivars ii genetic and chemical analysis
topic fig tree
SSRs
polyphenols composition
antioxidant activity
sugars
fig biodiversity
url https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/8/1238
work_keys_str_mv AT raffaellapetruccelli descriptionofificuscaricailitaliancultivarsiigeneticandchemicalanalysis
AT cristianagiordano descriptionofificuscaricailitaliancultivarsiigeneticandchemicalanalysis
AT deborahbeghe descriptionofificuscaricailitaliancultivarsiigeneticandchemicalanalysis
AT lorenzoarcidiaco descriptionofificuscaricailitaliancultivarsiigeneticandchemicalanalysis
AT alessandrabonetti descriptionofificuscaricailitaliancultivarsiigeneticandchemicalanalysis
AT francescaieri descriptionofificuscaricailitaliancultivarsiigeneticandchemicalanalysis
AT margheritarodolfi descriptionofificuscaricailitaliancultivarsiigeneticandchemicalanalysis
AT tommasoganino descriptionofificuscaricailitaliancultivarsiigeneticandchemicalanalysis