Abstract
ABSTRACT: Cultivars of the genus Nopalea are known in Brazil for being tolerant to cochineal carmine attacks, thus making the cultivation of this genus a promising alternative for mitigating the negative effects of this insect on the production of biomass. With the objectives of characterizing morphologically spineless forage cactus varieties and identify morphological characteristics that may be the focus in spineless forage cactus breeding programs, an experiment was conducted in a completely randomized block design with 11 treatments and four replications. The variety Alagoas showed the highest values of weight, area and volume of cladodes. The varieties Negro Michoacan F7 and V7, Tamazunchale V12 showed the highest values of the cladode area index, the total volume of cladodes and total fresh mass production. The varieties Negro Michoacan V7 and F7 presented the highest water use efficiency and dry mass yield. Cladode volume showed the highest correlation coefficients with the fresh weight of cladodes. Aiming the release of varieties for biomass production, varieties Negro Michoacan F7, V7 and Tamazunchale V12 may substitute the Miúda variety. The number and cladode area index may be used as criteria for selection of superior varieties in breeding programs.
Highlights
In northeastern Brazil, spineless forage cactus has been used as an important forage resource for feeding ruminants, and most existing plantations in the region are mainly formed with species of the genus Opuntia, such as varieties Gigante and Redonda
Spineless forage cactus, of the genus Nopalea, especially Miúda, are recognized in Brazil as varieties with greater tolerance to the carmine cochineal attack (Vasconcelos et al, 2009), making the cultivation of this genus a promising alternative to mitigate the negative effects of the insect in the production of biomass
Despite variety Alagoas being classified as a species of the genus Nopalea, it presented similar morphological characteristics as varieties of the genus Opuntia, with a smaller number of cladodes, with larger dimensions
Summary
In northeastern Brazil, spineless forage cactus has been used as an important forage resource for feeding ruminants, and most existing plantations in the region are mainly formed with species of the genus Opuntia, such as varieties Gigante and Redonda. These varieties are susceptible to the attack of carmine cochineal (Dactylopius coccus), and, the introduction of more tolerant genotypes is a viable alternative. Spineless forage cactus, of the genus Nopalea, especially Miúda, are recognized in Brazil as varieties with greater tolerance to the carmine cochineal attack (Vasconcelos et al, 2009), making the cultivation of this genus a promising alternative to mitigate the negative effects of the insect in the production of biomass. This research, had as objectives the morphological characterization of spineless forage cactus varieties of the genus Nopalea to indicate those that may substitute the existing ones, as well as to identify morphological characteristics that may be the focus in spineless forage cactus breeding programs
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