S02 - Session P3 - Assessment of genetic diversity of fig trees growing in Lebanon

Authors: Ali Chehade , Ahmad El Bitar, Hafid Achtak, Sylvain Santoni, Laila Essalouh, Bouchaib Khadari, Lamis Chalak *

Studying the genetic relationships between natural gene pools and cultivated forms is essential to understand the origin and domestication process of crop plants. In this study, we aimed to clarify this process in Lebanon, by analysing the fig genetic structure and comparing spontaneous populations and local cultivars at detail. A set of 48 spontaneous individuals and 42 cultivated fig trees sampled from several areas were analysed using 15 microsatellites loci. SSRs were found to be polymorphic revealing a total of 80 alleles, with two to eight alleles per locus for the spontaneous figs and one to six alleles for the cultivated ones. A similar genetic diversity within cultivated ( Ho=0.48 ) and spontaneous forms ( Ho= 0.53 ) was noted. Classical analysis and Bayesian method separated the cultivated and spontaneous forms in two distinct groups. However, a genetic proximity was suspected between cultivated and spontaneous fig indicating a local selection process. This is a LIA O-LiFE contribution number P 2021/2.