Hi Fig Body-of-Knowledge Keepers,
Does anyone know how to get a fig fingerprinted for accurate variety identification? My gardening friend and I have started a small Fig Study in zone 6b to test cold hardiness and production. We have 20 plants of 15 varieties (5 are duplicate varieties for the control) and 7 of those varieties are Unknown (figs found growing locally that produce well but whose name/variety has been lost). As part of the Study, we would like to formally identify them. But how? Who? Where? Help!
So far, I've found that UCD Foundation Plant Services does not test figs, CSP Labs does test figs but does not have a functional fig panel for variety identification, and have asked but not received a response from MyFruitTree.org. We are already working with the county extension service on this (this is not a commercial fig production state so neither they nor the land grant university have any contacts).
I understand that it might be expensive, but we expect this to be a 10-year study so we have time to raise funds...if we could just find a place that can do it. We can and will post leaf/fruit/taste for the community to comment on, but we'd really like to have a formal fingerprint compared against known varieties.
Advice?
