Hello everyone,
I am new to the forum and would like to introduce myself.
My name is Casey and I am currently studying plant science as an undergrad, planning on graduating this May. My goal is to become a successful plant breeder (not sure what i want to breed yet). Alongside all of my other plants, I have been growing a single fig tree (chicago hardy) in a container for 2 years now. I can say that I am definitely addicted and cant wait to start a collection. I am hoping to learn a lot on this forum. I can say after a quick few hours looking through it I am confident I will.

I should also mention that I am currently working on a hypothetical breeding project with figs. Its really more of a paper than a project. Any links to genetic/breeding information (preferably scientific papers) would be much appreciated!

Thank you!
Casey

Hey Casey.  Good to have you aboard!  It will be interesting to see what your research brings to the fig world.  I just got heavy into figs within the past 6 months myself, and it's very addicting and rewarding already.  The members here are incredible and always willing to answer questions, even if they've been asked 100 times.  Lots of respect for one another.

Welcome!  We don't want to bore you so it will help to know if you're familiar with the info on these pages or not

http://waynesword.palomar.edu/pljun99b.htm

http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/show_single_post?pid=38768803&postcount=13

Welcome. one fig tree huh. thats funny. see how long that last having only one.

What you have is a gateway fig that like with other gatway things will lead to more.

im dave and im a figaholic.

Hi Casey, welcome.
I'm also interested in breeding. I have a couple of edible caprifig (male fig) cuttings going, UCR 228-20 "Enderud" and UCR 271-1 "Saleeb". I hope to make my first crosses next year. I'd love to hear about how your project turns out.

From the links Bob posted you can see a caprifig that is both heterozygous for the sex gene and persistent. You can find a more in depth description and breeding techniques in the book "Advances in Fruit Breeding" by Jules Janick and James N. Moore. The chapter on Figs was written by W. B. Storey, who worked with and took over for Condit. It was recommended to me by a member here, and is worth the few bucks to pick it up used. Your university probably even has a copy.

HA, Dave is right ;)

Welcome Casey.
Hold on tight this is gonna be the ride of your figgin life.

One fig. Yeah right. I started with one. Then I got a few more. Then I joined this forum. And now I have 58 cuttings that I am rooting (with more on the way) and 28 rooted cuttings that have graduated to cups. 

Welcome ;)

Nichole, like everyone asks me... tell me where are you going to put 50 trees?  

Grasa I just sent you and slavi an email about that - I only want to keep one of each variety and the rest will be given away. 
Plus, we are looking for property on the east side, so soon (in 2-3 yrs), they will all have permanent homes :)

Welcome Casey! Much to learn here and everyone is helpful.

Welcome Casey from Southern California!  Good luck with your undergrad studies and that paper you are writing!

Where are you located?

Suzi

Welcome Casey!

Welcome ! from  S.E. Nebraska zone 5.

AUSTIN

Welcome Casey, if you love all types of fruits... the addition does not stop at figs lol. I am trying to limit myself to about 10-15 figs, I just dont have the room atm to add more.

Hello Casey...welcome to the Forum...I also have a Chicago Hardy...it's one of my favorites...by now
it's gone way beyond one tree...it sort of gets out of control after a while...you'll see!!    :)

Welcome

Welcome.  Maybe we should all invest in a timeshare for fig land to accommodate all our fig varieties.  Maybe somewhere in the Mediterranean. 

Welcome Casey! Lots of information to be found here, I learn something new everyday. What size pot if your 2 year old Chicago Hardy in currently?

Greetings from Maryland! Tell us more about your research projects.

Welcome to the forum.

Welcome!

Thanks everyone!
I actually have a few cuttings of celeste and brooklyn white on the way, so i will not be confined to one cultivar for long. I cant wait. However I dont have room for caprifigs, and certainly not for growing out progeny yet, so any fig breeding wont start for a while. That goes for most other things as well. I am however hoping to learn a lot and hopefully already know what im doing after writing this paper. I already have some background working with a peach, nectarine, and apricot breeder at my school. It doesn't translate entirely to fig breeding though, and I still have a lot to learn about plant genetics.

Rcantor- Thank you for those links, i will read through them and see what i know already.

Aphahan - thank you for the book suggestion

DesertDance - I am located in NJ

Striveforfreedom - My 2 year is in a 7 gallon right now, but i think im moving it to a 20 gal smart pot ASAP

Maro2Bear - I am not doing a lot of actual research per se. Right now I am just writing up a hypothetical breeding project to create improved cold hardy cultivars. I may focus on disease resistance instead as it seems more important right now, but i still need to learn more about fig genetics before i decide for sure.

Perez-Jiménez M, López B, Dorado G, Pujadas-Salvá A, Guzmán G, Hernandez P. Analysis of genetic diversity of southern Spain fig tree ( Ficus carica L.) and reference materials as a tool for breeding and conservation. Hereditas [serial online]. June 2012;149(3):108-113. Available from: Academic Search Complete, Ipswich, MA. Accessed February 21, 2013.

Not sure if I can upload it here or not, but you should have no trouble finding it. Good luck, I have a similar interest but have not found adequate info on caprifigs to pick one out yet.

Welcome Casey. We are honored to have you. The folks here are wonderful. I have learned a lot from my friends here. I think Jon knows a lot about breeding figs.