Carlos Perez Soto, an Agricultural Engineer of the Autonomous University of Baja California Sur (UABCS), conducted an experiment to find new fig production techniques for the state, which consist of having the stems or branches develop new roots, as some very tall branches can't be bent to reach the soil.
The engineer said that, according to his study, these types of propagation techniques are used to produce fruit or ornamental trees, as well as vegetables, without the need for seeds, which allows the plant to retain the characteristics of the mother plant.
The branches of the chosen plants were defoliated and a week later they were cut, allowing the researcher to obtain stakes of 16.0 cm in length, which were prepared and subjected to different propagation treatments.The procedure had an 80% success rate.
"This had a significant impact on the plant's growth in its first stages of development, as it ranked first in four of the six variables stipulated for the project," said Perez Soto.
This is very important, he said, as the cultivation of fig trees is increasing in Mexico because it is a good economic alternative for the rural sector.
Fresh and dried figs have a great nutritional value, he stated. They are rich in sugars and vitamins A, B and C; in addition they are good for a sore throat, inflamed gums, asthma, cough, and indigestion, among other issues.
