©FUNPEC-RP www.funpecrp.com.br Genetics and Molecular Research 12 (2): 3931-3943 (2013) Initial assessment of natural diversity in Mexican ig landraces M.T. García-Ruiz 1 , V.M. Mendoza-Castillo 2 , E. Valadez-Moctezuma 2 and A. Muratalla-Lúa 3 1 Recursos Genéticos y Productividad, Fisiología Vegetal, Colegio de Postgraduados, Montecillo, México 2 Departamento de Fitoctecnia, Universidad Autónoma Chapingo, Chapingo, México 3 Recursos Genéticos y Productividad, Colegio de Postgraduados, Montecillo, México Corresponding author: E. Valadez-Moctezuma E-mail: evaladez@correo.chapingo.mx Genet. Mol. Res. 12 (3): 3931-3943 (2013) Received December 12, 2012 Accepted July 16, 2013 Published September 23, 2013 DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.4238/2013.September.23.12 ABSTRACT. The common ig (Ficus carica L.) was introduced into Mexico by Spanish Franciscan missionaries in the 16th century. It is widely assumed that Mexican igs are the Spanish cultivar Black Mission. We collected and propagated 12 ig plants from six landraces from different states in Central Mexico that represent different climate. All of them were grown in a greenhouse at Universidad Autónoma Chapingo, in the State of Mexico. During the experimental period, the greenhouse had an average temperature and relative humidity of 29.2° ± 5.4°C (SEM) and 78.1 ± 6.7% (SEM), respectively. Morphological characterization was done following a selected set of quantitative and qualitative descriptors established by the IPGRI. DNA analysis was based on a combination of ISSR and RFLP markers. We observed great diversity mainly in fruit weight (28.1-96.2 g), fruit shape (ovoid, pyriform), and neck length (0.97-3.80 cm), which could not be explained by environmental conditions such as temperature and relative humidity. The Nei and Li/Dice similarity coeficient between landraces was determined by cluster analysis using the UPGMA method. Based on the