In horticulture, Damping Off describes seedling or cutting collapse caused by pathogens in wet media.. . Damping Off is most useful when it is tied to the exact plant part, season, cultivar, and growing conditions being described.

Daylength is a term used for the amount of daylight in a 24-hour period.. . Daylength is most useful when it is tied to the exact plant part, season, cultivar, and growing conditions being described.

DE commonly stands for diatomaceous earth, a powder made from fossilized diatoms. Gardeners sometimes use it as a physical insect barrier or drying agent, although effectiveness depends on dryness, application, and the target pest. In fig culture, DE may be mentioned around ants, crawling insects, or propagation sanitation, but it is not a complete pest-management program. It can lose effectiveness when wet and should be handled carefully to avoid inhaling dust. Correct pest identification remains more important than applying any one material by habit.

Deacclimation is a term used for loss of cold hardiness after warm conditions.. . Deacclimation is most useful when it is tied to the exact plant part, season, cultivar, and growing conditions being described.

The term “Dead Cat figs” reportedly stems from a lost or abandoned greenhouse at LSU, where seedlings were discovered near the remains of a deceased cat. These seedlings were never part of any official breeding trial—they were likely random seedlings, not recognized or developed by LSU scientists. Yet some growers informally labeled them “LSU DC” or “Dead Cat,” which created confusion. ✅ What LSU Affirms (and Doesn’t) The official LSU AgCenter fig breeding program (1950s–1960s under Dr. Ed O’Rourke and later renewed by Charlie Johnson) produced six official releases: LSU Purple (1991) LSU Gold (1995) LSU Tiger (2007) LSU Champagne (2007) LSU O’Rourke (2007) LSU Scott’s Black (2007) Unnamed seedlings discovered in test orchards sometimes circulated unofficially under various names (e.g. "DC figs," LSU #156, Hollier, etc.), but these were never officially released, named, or tested by LSU researchers. Reddit ⚠️ Community Critique Fig collectors and growers on platforms like OurFigs have criticized the casual use of "LSU" labels for figs of unknown origin. One forum comment sums it up: “Calling a Kadota an ‘LSU Everbearing’ is like calling a strawberry an LSU fig. A joke!’” In the community-managed list of “attributed” vs. “registered” LSU figs, LSU DC-6 (Dead Cat) is marked under “attributed,” not official, placing it among varieties with no formal documentation or release.   📋 Summary Table Name/Label Status Notes LSU Purple, Gold, Tiger, Champagne, O’Rourke, Scott’s Black Official LSU releases Developed and vetted by LSU; formally named and released with cultivar designations. LSU Everbearing, LSU DC (Dead Cat), LSU #156, LSU Hollier, etc. Unofficial / Attributed Seedlings of unknown origin; not documented or tested by LSU AgCenter. Dead Cat (DC) figs Anecdotal name only Named for a greenhouse incident. No breeding records support LSU origin. Real "LSU" fig release Documented and evaluated Must appear in official LSU releases list and paperwork.

Deciduous describes plants that shed their leaves for part of the year, usually during winter dormancy or a dry season. Leaf drop helps plants conserve resources during unfavorable conditions. Common fig trees are deciduous in temperate climates. In autumn, leaves yellow and fall as the tree enters dormancy. This normal seasonal leaf drop should not be confused with stress-related leaf loss during active growth, which may indicate water, root, pest, or disease problems.

Decurrent Base refers to a leaf base that extends downward along the petiole or stem.. . Decurrent Base is most useful when it is tied to the exact plant part, season, cultivar, and growing conditions being described.

Deep Watering refers to watering thoroughly enough to wet the active root zone. . For Deep Watering, the practical interpretation depends on the growing setup: container or in-ground tree, drainage, watering pattern, sunlight, season, and local weather.

Deer Browse is a term used for feeding damage caused by deer. Related glossary ideas include integrated pest management.. . Deer Browse is most useful when it is tied to the exact plant part, season, cultivar, and growing conditions being described.

Deflasking is a term used for removing tissue-culture plants from sterile vessels.

Deflasking belongs in propagation notes with the date, wood condition, method, moisture level, and result, because those details explain why a cutting, graft, or layer succeeded or failed.

Dehydrator refers to equipment used to dry fruit with controlled heat and airflow.. . Dehydrator is most useful when it is tied to the exact plant part, season, cultivar, and growing conditions being described.

In horticulture, Delayed Budbreak describes late emergence of buds in spring. For pruning, grafting, and variety notes, Delayed Budbreak should be recorded with its position on the shoot so the observation can be connected to buds, fruiting sites, dieback, or new growth.

For Delayed Budbreak, record where it occurs on the shoot or trunk; that position can affect pruning decisions, regrowth after winter injury, grafting, and fruiting wood.

Dennis Johnson is a name that appears in fig-collecting discussions and provenance notes. In a glossary context, a person entry is most useful when it helps readers understand labels, collection histories, or references encountered in variety descriptions. Because person-related fig history can be difficult to verify from public information, Fig Database should treat such entries cautiously. This entry may need additional human review if a more detailed biography, collection role, or specific cultivar connection is desired.

Dentate Margin means a leaf edge with outward-pointing teeth in practical plant language. Dentate Margin is useful when comparing fig leaves because leaf shape can vary by cultivar, tree age, shoot vigor, and season. Clear leaf descriptions should mention the part being observed and should be paired with photos when the term is used for identification.

DFIC refers to the Davis Fig Indexing Collection, a collection associated with fig germplasm work in California. In variety discussions, DFIC numbers or references may help identify accessions, research material, or historical records connected to fig study and preservation.

For collectors, a DFIC reference is useful provenance information, but it should be handled precisely. A number, accession name, and cultivar name are not always interchangeable without checking the original record and the plant material being discussed.

In horticulture, Dichotomous Branching describes branching in which a growing point divides into two forks.. . For Dichotomous Branching, position on the tree matters: low growth, terminal growth, old wood, and new shoots can lead to different pruning, training, and fruiting decisions.