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Comparative analysis and physio-biochemical screening of an ex-situ fig (Ficus carica L.) collection

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A Correction to this article was published on 11 October 2019

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Abstract

Fig (Ficus carica L.) is an important natural source of bioactive compounds in the health-promoting Mediterranean diet. However, there are no established studies investigating antioxidant compounds and their variability in figs grown in Moroccan orchards based on biochemical attributes. In this study, 135 local fig clones and foreign varieties were screened for their total phenolics, flavonoids, anthocyanins, proanthocyanidins, soluble sugars, titrable acidity, total soluble solids, and skin color (L*, c*, and hue°). Radical scavenging activity was determined using DPPH, ABTS, and β-carotene blanching tests. All analyses revealed significant variations among genotypes. High concentrations of total phenolics and anthocyanins were found in dark figs that showed the highest antioxidant capacity. Total anthocyanins ranged from 0.41 to 57.47 mg cy-3-rutinoside/100gdw, which is likey the major contributor to radical scavenging activity (RSA), particularly using the DPPH method (r = 0.342**). Based on principal component analysis, skin color coordinates, total flavonoids, anthocyanins, and RSA using DPPH were the most discriminant variable explaining more than 31% of total variance. Unweighted pair-group method of arithmetic average cluster analysis was used to classify genotypes based on their biochemical attributes. Two major clusters were discriminated based particularly on skin color and antioxidant activity.

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Fig. 1

Change history

  • 11 October 2019

    The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake. Abderrahman Mekaoui was not listed among the authors. The corrected author list is given above. The original article has been corrected.

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Acknowledgements

This work was financed by the Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries, Rural Development, Water and Forests of Morocco (MCRDV program).

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LH designed the research, collected samples analyzed and interpreted the data and wrote the manuscript. JC and HH provided the technical support for designing and conducting research as well as supervised the whole research process. RR and AM performed the review. SE performed the last review and statistical analysis and AM contributed in collecting samples and their analysis. LH wrote the draft with comments from all authors and finalized the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Rachid Razouk.

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Communicated by Heakeun Yun, Ph.D.

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The original version of this article was revised: Abderrahman Mekaoui was not listed among the authors.

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Hssaini, L., Charafi, J., Hanine, H. et al. Comparative analysis and physio-biochemical screening of an ex-situ fig (Ficus carica L.) collection. Hortic. Environ. Biotechnol. 60, 671–683 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13580-019-00170-4

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