Use of morphological traits and microsatellite markers to characterize the Tunisian cultivated and wild figs (Ficus carica L.)

• Morphological traits and SSR markers were used to characterize cultivated and wild figs.
• Leaf characters demonstrated significant morphological differences.
• The 17 SSR patterns exhibited 74 alleles and 63 genotypes.
• LMFC30, LMFC19, MFC3 and MFC11 loci were used to establish an identification key.
• Genetic characterization should be used to define conservation and management strategies.

We used 8 morphological traits and 17 simple sequence repeats loci to characterize 71 cultivated and wild Tunisian fig trees (Ficus carica L.). Significant morphological differences were inferred from leaf traits. The statistical analysis showed two major fig groups that indicated a common morphological basis. A total of 74 SSR alleles was revealed, defining 63 unique multilocus genotypes indicating a substantial genetic diversity. Based on multilocus SSR genotypes an identification key was established using MFC30, MFC3, MFC11 and MFC19 loci to identify figs. Analysis of variance components of linkage disequilibrium shown that among 136 pairs of loci, 32 present a significant gametic disequilibrium. The parameter D′2IS (0.1284) was greater than D′2ST (0.0079), a pointer of close to zero variance in total simple, and consequently the more pronounced independence of the 17 SSR loci. The majority of Ohta's variance components of linkage disequilibrium followed a pattern caused by genetic drift or a non-systematic disequilibrium profiles and natural selection occurs only for LMFC24-MFC8 pair loci in cultivated figs. Our results suggest that the morphological and SSR markers are suitable to characterize figs and should be recommended in conservation management strategy.