title: Analysis of genetic diversity of Tunisian caprifig (Ficus caricaL.) accessions using simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The common fig (Ficus caricaL.) is a gynodioecious species with two sexual forms: male trees (caprifigs) with male and female flowers and female trees that produce only female flowers that will result in the edible fig syconium. In this study the genetic diversity of 20 Tunisian accessions of caprifig is analyzed using SSR markers previously developed for this crop.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results revealed that the 13 pairs of primers used amplified a total of 37 alleles in the accessions studied. The number of alleles per locus ranged from two to six, with a mean value of 2.85 alleles per locus. Observed and expected heterozygosities showed mean values of 0.33 and 0.29 respectively. UPGMA cluster analysis and Principal Component Analysis grouped the caprifig accessions analyzed in three groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results obtained show a low genetic diversity in the Tunisian accessions of caprifig studied and, in spite of analyzing samples from different geographic regions, no clear groupings based on geographical origin are observed suggesting widespread exchange of caprifig plant material through vegetative propagation among different areas in Tunisia.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire d'Aridoculture et Cultures Oasiennes Institut des Régions Arides de Médenine, Médenine, 4119 Tunisia.
authors.forename: Awatef
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Essid
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire d'Aridoculture et Cultures Oasiennes Institut des Régions Arides de Médenine, Médenine, 4119 Tunisia.
authors.forename: Fateh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Aljane
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire d'Aridoculture et Cultures Oasiennes Institut des Régions Arides de Médenine, Médenine, 4119 Tunisia.|Institut National Agronomique de Tunisie, 43 Avenue Charles Nicolle, 1082 Cité Mahrajène, Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ferchichi
authors.affiliation: Subtropical Fruit Crops Department, Instituto de Hortofruticultura Subtropical y Mediterránea la Mayora', (IHSM-CSIC-UMA), 29750 Algarrobo-Costa, Málaga, Spain.
authors.forename: Jose Ignacio
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-5449-7444
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Hormaza
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D018556:Crops, Agricultural / Q000235:genetics; D018744:DNA, Plant / Q000235:genetics; D030681:Ficus / Q000235:genetics*; D005819:Genetic Markers; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006579:Heterozygote; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats; D025341:Principal Component Analysis
chemical_list: D018744:DNA, Plant; D005819:Genetic Markers
keywords: Caprifig; Ficus carica; Fig; Microsatellites; Moraceae; SSRs; Tunisia