What is a variant?  I've seen the term used for awhile now, but I'm not getting it.  If it says a "Mission Variant", is that just another way of saying that it is "like" a Black Mission?  Like an "unknown dark"?

Because unless I'm misunderstanding, a cutting is a genetically identical clone, and therefore there cannot be "variants" unless they are actually just genetically different fig trees.  Right?

I don't know, I might be misunderstanding something...

A form or version of something that differs in some respect from other forms of the same thing or from a standard: "variants of malaria".


Basically its like saying I have Brown turkey or a VDB there ( Variants )

Generally it should/does mean something that is essentially the same, yet still has some difference.

For instance, I have about 2 dozen different Celeste "variants": Jn, PM, AA001, 2BJS, GM, IS, SD06, etc. They are all the same, when DNA tested, yet when grown here have differences: maybe better grower, bigger fruit, different shape fruit, etc.

So they are genetically the same, but display visual (phenotypic? I think is the word) differences. 

Ok, I get it now.  So if they are genetically the same, would any observable differences simply be a result of environmental differences?  So would they grow the same, if all other factors were constant?

I know I'm treading into the messy world of fig naming and stuff, but I am just curious...haha...thanks though.

There are different (Variants) of a Honda,lexus,mazda Etc.
But every Honda is a honda just different models so to speak.

I believe that genetic testing on figs only tests a small portion of the DNA in certain spots know as markers. The remaining portion of the DNA can vary widely and still show up as the same variety.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetic_marker

Every now and again a growing tip of a plant will mutate and have a different gene somewhere. These are commonly called "sports". While they are unique in the spot on the DNA they mutated, they will continue to show up the same on a genetic test unless the mutation happened to occur in the location of a marker.

I am not sure what method they use for genetically identifying figs but there is a wide amount of variablity in the different types of tests and what they are testing for. Also, genetics are important for how different physical characteristics (phenotype is the correct term) are expressed but there are many other factors including environment which can affect the epigenetics ( the micorenvironemnt of the DNA) of an organism and resulting phenotypes such as those that Jon mentioned. The study of epigenetics is a relatively new field that has been mostly focused on cancer research but is beginning to extend to other areas of research. My experience with it is in terms of biomedical research so I am not sure if they are using it in plant research.

Basically a variant is a subdivision of a variety. As Jon gave in his example there are many variants of Celeste but they are all still considered Celeste.

Oh man. You guys really want to get into a discussion of what is essentially man-made groupings of things? Any taxonomists out there? Not to disrespect any of these comments, because they are all valid, but the topic is so laden with semantics that it is just ripe for confusion.

welcome to figs