Number Of Cladodes Research Articles

Forage yield and morphological traits of cactus pear genotypes

The objective of this study was to evaluate the forage yield and morphological responses of 34 cactus pear (Nopalea cochenillifera and Opuntia ficus indica) genotypes. The genotypes were planted in a randomized complete block design, with 34 treatments and three replicates. After 330 days of cultivation, morphological characteristics, plant mortality and pest and disease occurrence on the plants were assessed, and plant cutting was performed. Multivariate analyses were performed to assign the 34 cactus genotypes to homogenous groups. The average Euclidian distance was adopted as a dissimilarity measurement for use with the standardized data Variables with relatively high levels of independence among the agronomic categories and with biological importance to animal nutrition and forage yield were assessed. To identify associative effects, Pearson’s correlation analysis was performed among all the studied variables. The formation of five distinct groups was observed, and some morphological responses correlated with the productivity characteristics. Green mass production was positively correlated with dry mass production, water accumulation, water-use efficiency, water accumulation and cladode number per plant. The following genotypes had remarkably high yields of dry and green mass, a greater ability to accumulate water and relatively high water-use efficiency and support capacity: Negro Michoacan (V07), Tamazunchale (V12), California (V14), Orelha de Elefante Mexicana (V17), and Amarillo 2289 (T32).

Growth, phenology and harvesting time of cactus-millet intercropping system under biotic mulching

ABSTRACT Development duration in the cactus is directly related to changes in the environment caused by the management, which can result in advancing or delaying the harvest. The aim of this study was to analyse the growth, phenology and cutting time of irrigated cactus intercropped with millet, with and without the use of mulch. The experimental design was of randomised blocks (regular arrangement) with four treatments: monocropped cactus, and intercropped cactus and millet, both with and without mulch. The cladode area index and dry matter were used to calculate the morphophysiological indices. The total number of cladodes on the plant was used to delimit the phenological phases. The ideal cutting time for the crop was determined from the dry matter. Under the monocrop system with mulch, the cactus was superior to the other systems regarding morphophysiological indices. The intercrop caused a reduction in phenophase 2 of the cactus and the advancement of phenophase 3, but there was no reduction in crop yield. The ideal cutting time was between 2,300 and 2,400°C day. The irrigated intercropping of cactus and millet advances the cutting time of the forage cactus, irrespective of the use of mulching.

Spatio-temporal monitoring of soil and plant indicators under forage cactus cultivation by geoprocessing in Brazilian semi-arid region

The objective of this work was to characterize the spectral responses of soil and plant indicators utilizing the Soil-Adjusted Vegetation Index (SAVI) and Leaf Area Index (LAI) in areas under the cultivation of ‘Orelha de Elefante Mexicana’ forage cactus (Opuntia stricta (Haw.) Haw.) and ‘Miúda’ (Nopalea cochenillifera (L.) Salm-Dyck) in Brazilian semi-arid region and to establish a model for characterizing vegetation cover in crop production areas. The research was conducted in Brazilian semi-arid region, which had two areas under the cultivation of forage cactus in the period from 2017 to 2020. Soil physical attributes and plant morphometric variables were recorded, concomitantly the determination of SAVI and LAI, from images from the Sentinel-2 satellite. The recorded data were submitted to principal component analysis. The cumulative total variance of the principal components showed satisfactory results for both areas. There was a correlation between plant height, the number of cladodes, and vegetation indices, selected to compose the predictive variables of the multiple regression model. It is recommended to use images from the Sentinel-2 satellite in small areas, given its lower spatial resolution in capturing different spectral responses.

Productivity, bromatological composition and economic benefits of using irrigation in the forage cactus under regulated deficit irrigation in a semiarid environment

The use of irrigation can improve the productivity and nutritional quality of the forage cactus in environments with a water deficit, resulting in profit to the producer. The productive performance, bromatological composition and economic benefits of using irrigation were investigated in this study with forage cactus clones regulated deficit irrigation (RDI). The study was conducted in an experimental design of randomised blocks, in a factorial scheme with subdivided plots. The plots consisted of water regimes based on the crop evapotranspiration (ETc) (rainfed, 40, 80 and 120% ETc). The cactus clones [‘Miúda’ (MIU), ‘Orelha de Elefante Mexicana’ (OEM) and ‘IPA Sertânia’ (IPA)] comprised the subplots. The total number of cladodes per plant, the fresh and dry matter yields and the bromatological composition were evaluated. Economic viability was assessed using the net revenue and benefit to cost ratio (BCR). The irrigation depths did not increase the yield of the clones. The OEM clone showed 276 and 343% greater fresh and dry matter production, respectively, when compared to the IPA clone; however, when compared with the MIU clone, it was 63%, both on a fresh and dry matter production. The water regimes had no effect on the nutritional quality of the cactus. Only IPA showed no profit during the first cycle (BCR < 1). It can be concluded that planting one irrigated hectare with the OEM and MIU clones offer economic returns starting from the first production cycle (18 months).

Regression models for productivity prediction in cactus pear cv. Gigante

ABSTRACT The understanding of plant behavior and its reflexes on yield is essential for rural planning; thus, the biomathematical models are promising in the yield prediction of cactus pear cv. Gigante. This study aimed to adjust, through simple and multiple regression analysis, models for predicting the yield of cactus pear cv. Gigante. The study, using homogeneous treatments, was developed at the Instituto Federal Baiano, Campus of Guanambi, Bahia, Brazil. Data were collected in an area consisting of 384 basic units (plants), in which the yield, defined as a dependent variable, and the predictor variables: plant height (PH), cladode length (CL), cladode width (CW), and cladode thickness (CT), number of cladodes (NC), cladode area (CA), and total cladode area (TCA) were evaluated. Simple linear regression models, multiple regression models only with simple effects for the explanatory variables, and the multiple regression models considering the simple and quadratic effects, and all its possible interactions were adjusted. From this last model, a reduced model was obtained by discarding the less relevant effects, using the Stepwise methodology. The use of the vegetative traits, TCA, NC, CA, CL, CT, and CW, through the adoption of multiple linear regression, quadratic interaction or just the variable TCA by the use of simple linear regression, allows the yield prediction of cactus pear, with adjusted R² of 0.82, 0.76, and 0.74, respectively.

‘Gigante’ cactus pear cultivated at different population densities in a mechanizable arrangement

ABSTRACT Cactus pear is a crop adapted to the climatic conditions of the Brazilian semiarid region, so it has contributed to the socioeconomic development of this region. The objective of this study was to evaluate the response of ‘Gigante’ cactus pear cultivated at different population densities in a mechanizable arrangement. The experimental design was in randomized blocks, with six population densities: 22,857; 34,286; 51,428; 62,857; 80,000 and 95,000 plants ha-1 and four repetitions. The following variables were evaluated: plant height, number of cladodes, cladode length, cladode width and cladode area index, green and dry matter yields, extraction/export of nutrients and soil chemical characteristics. Increase in population density in a mechanizable arrangement decreases the number of cladodes and increases the cladode area index. The maximum green and dry matter yield of cactus pear cultivated in arrangement that allows mechanization is expected with populations of 69,111.79 and 64,445.91 plants ha-1, respectively. Maximum values of extraction/export of nutrients in cactus pear tissue are expected at intermediate population densities (62,721.52-74,741.93 plants ha-1). Soil potential acidity has maximum value with 64,525.51 plants ha-1.

STRUCTURAL CHARACTERISTICS AND YIELD OF 'GIGANTE' CACTUS PEAR IN AGROECOSYTEMS IN THE SEMI-ARID REGION OF BAHIA, BRAZIL

ABSTRACT The adaptation capacity of forage cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica Mill) plants to edaphoclimatic conditions and plant responses to changes in management systems contribute to increase the use of this species in agriculture and the exploration of its productive potential in semi-arid regions. The objective of this work was to evaluate the structural characteristics and cladode yield of forage cactus plants grown under different agroecosystems in the semi-arid region of Bahia, Brazil. Structural characteristics of plants and soils attributes were analyzed. The traditional information on the crop management and its correlations with cladode yield were used to identify the best yield indexes, considering the peculiarities of each agroecosystem. Plant height, cladode thickness, and number of cladodes of the forage cactus plants evaluated were less affected by the agroecosystem than by the production systems. Cladode width, length, and area were more affected by the agroecosystems. The forage cactus crop yields, expressed by the annual cladode fresh matter yield, were positively correlated with the plant structural characteristics: plant height and thickness, and cladode width and length. The cladode weight per plant and fresh matter yield per area were the yield components most affected by the management system adopted by traditional producers.

Evaluation of Application Frequency and Levels of Nitrogen on Cactus Pear

The objective of this study was to evaluate the agronomic characteristics of Nopalea cochenillifera (L.) Salm-Dick under different frequencies and levels of nitrogen application (N). Three nitrogen fertilizer application frequencies (1 time year-1, 6 times year-1 and 12 times year-1) and four nitrogen levels (0, 100, 200 and 400 kg of N ha-1 year-1) were evaluated one year after the planting, in a randomized blocks design with 12 replications. There was no interaction (P&gt;0.05) between application frequencies and nitrogen levels. The number of cladodes, and the green and dry forage mass yields of the cactus pear were higher with the application frequency of 6 times year-1, presenting 18.4 ± 2.0 cladodes per plant, 151.0 ± 17.8 and 9.8 ± 1.0 t ha-1, respectively. The yield doubled with the application of 400 kg N ha-1, when compared to the treatment with no nitrogen application. With the nitrogen application frequency of 1 time year-1 the crude protein and neutral detergent fiber contents were higher, presenting 4.0 ± 0.1% and 33.8 ± 0.5%, respectively. When nitrogen is applied 6 times year-1 it provides higher growth and yield, but lower protein and fiber contents. The level 400 kg N ha-1 provides higher yield and lower nitrogen use efficiency.

A preliminary analysis of the costs and benefits of the biological control agent Dactylopius opuntiae on Opuntia stricta in Laikipia County, Kenya

Opuntia stricta (Haw.) Haw (Cactaceae) is invasive in Laikipia County, Kenya, impacting negatively on biodiversity and livelihoods. To control this invasive plant the biocontrol agent Dactylopius opuntiae (Cockerell) (Hemiptera; Dactylopiidae) ‘stricta’ biotype was released in 2014. A preliminary once-off survey to determine the impact of the cochineal revealed that it had contributed to a significant reduction in the number of cladodes, flowers and fruit of plants with cochineal. Fruits that were produced on plants with the cochineal were also smaller and had fewer seeds. Although still preliminary, an analysis of the costs of implementing this biocontrol programme indicates that it is the most cost-effective management intervention compared to physical and/or chemical control. Although the impact of the cochineal is still fairly localized we are confident that it will establish in much of the invaded range and reduce the impacts of the invasive cactus, consequently improving rangeland condition and livelihoods.

Clones de nopal Oreja de Elefante Mexicana con potencial forrajero

Evaluar clones del cultivar de nopal Oreja de Elefante Mexicana (Opuntia stricta Haw), con el objetivo de encontrar el que mostrara características agronómicas y zootécnicas para ser considerado con potencial forrajero, se llevó a cabo un experimento en el Instituto Agronómico de Pernambuco (IPA), localizado en las coordenadas 08° 25’ 15’’ latitud sur y 37° 03’ 41’’ longitud oeste, a 663 msnm, con una precipitación de 692 mm. El periodo experimental comprendió de enero 2014 a julio de 2015 y los clones utilizados fueron Lisa 1, Lisa 2, Seg CV, Planta mãe, Seg 1, Seg 2, Seg 3, Seg 4, Seg 5 y Seg 6. Las variables evaluadas fueron producción (t MS ha-1), número de cladodios en planta (NC), altura de la planta (AP), ancho de la planta (ANP), cantidad de espina (CE), tamaño de espina (TE) y cantidad de gloquidio (CG); dentro de cada planta se midió en cladodios, perímetro (P), longitud (LC), ancho (ANC) y grosor (GC), número de líneas (LCP) y número de yemas (YCP). El diseño experimental fue completamente al azar y la prueba de comparación de medias con Tukey (p 0.05). Se presentaron diferencias entre clones (p≤ 0.05) lisa 2, mostró la menor CE, TE, CG, y la menor producción (6.45 t MS ha-1), el clon Seg CV, presentó mayor producción (67.41 t MS ha-1), NC, AP, y ANP; sin embargo, también presentó mayor CE, TE y CG por lo que pese a su rendimiento no muestra las mejores características agronómicas y zootécnicas.

Pitaya (Hylocereus undatus) initial growth in function to NPK fertilization

Pitaya is considered a very promising cactus fruit, however, there is a lack of studies that support the definition of more suitable production systems. Thus, the objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of NPK mineral fertilization on pitaya initial growth, aiming the definition of nutritional and fertilization management appropriate to the agricultural exploitation of the crop. The assay was conducted in the greenhouse of the Biotechnology Laboratory. The propagating part of pitaya is its stem known as cladode. The cladodes were planted in pots of 8.0 dm3, filled with substrate based on soil from termites. The donor matrices of vegetative material were young specimens of white-fleshed pitaya (Hylocereus undatus). 72 cuttings of 30.0 cm in length were used. The experimental design was in randomized blocks with 9 treatments (NPK doses) and 4 replications, totalizing 36 experimental plots. Each experimental plot was composed of 2 cuttings. Number of cladodes, sum of cladodes length, fresh cladodes mass, dry cladodes mass, root system length, root system fresh mass and root system dry mass were evaluated at 160 days after planting the morphological characters. The results of the variables were submitted to the analysis of variance and the means grouped by the Scott-Knott test at 5% of probability. NPK fertilization affected the initial growth of the aerial part and the root system of pitaya. The greatest development of pitaya was provided by 450.0 mg dm-3 of N, 250.0 mg dm-3 of P and 250.0 mg dm-3 of K.

Morphological and yield responses of spineless cactus Orelha de Elefante Mexicana under different cutting intensities

ABSTRACT The objective was to evaluate the effects of different cutting intensities on the morphological responses and forage yield of spineless cactus Orelha de Elefante Mexicana (OEM) (Opuntia stricta (Haw.) Haw) in a 12-month cycle, receiving supplemental irrigation. Three cutting intensities were evaluated: cut preserving only the mother cladode (MOTHC), cut preserving primary cladodes (PRIMC), and cut preserving secondary cladodes (SECC), equivalent to initial residual cladode area index (rCAI) of 0.08, 0.33 and 0.69, respectively. The experiment was a randomized block design with eight replicates. The cutting intensities PRIMC and SECC resulted in higher plant height and width, total cladode number and cladode area index compared to MOTHC. The harvested plant weight, forage yield (t DM ha-1), forage accumulation rate and water use efficiency were greater for PRIMC and SECC in comparison to MOTHC. The forage yield for MOTHC was 20.92 t DM (dry matter) ha-1, while for PRIMC and SECC were 37.55 and 33.18 t DM ha-1, respectively. The final CAI was 1.23, 2.53 and 3.55 for MOTHC, SECC and PRIMC, respectively. Morphological and yield responses of OEM Spineless cactus under supplemental irrigation are influenced by cutting intensities, in which less intense cuts (preserving the primary or secondary cladodes) promote taller and wider plants, and higher forage yield.

Plot Size by the Variance Comparison Method for With ‘Gigante’ Cactus Pear

Appropriate plot size is recognized as a means of maximizing experimental accuracy and contributes to efficient treatment assessment. This study aimed to estimate the optimal plot size for experiments with &amp;lsquo;Gigante&amp;rsquo; cactus pears using the comparison of variances method (CVM). A uniformity trial was conducted to assess plant height (PH), number of cladodes (NC), yield (Y), cladode area index (CAI), cladode length (CL), width (CW), thickness (CT) and cladode area (CA) in a cactus pear crop. A rectangular-shaped plot consisting of 10 rows of 50 plants each was used, totaling 500 plants, with 384 basic units (BU), corresponding to the study area. A hierarchical classification approach was adopted, simulating a split-plot design in which each plant was denominated a basic unit (BU), and considering the effects of blocks (B), plots (P)/B, subplots (S)/P/B, rows (R)/S/P/B and plants (Pln)/F/S/P/B. This resulted in five plots sizes, consisting of 1, 12, 24, 48 and 96 basic units. Plots with 12, 24, 48 and 96 BU were statistically equal for the variables Y, PH, NC, CAI, CL, CW and CT, with lower variances than the plot with 1 BU. As such, 4.8 m&amp;sup2; with 12 basic units is the optimal experimental plot size for &amp;lsquo;Gigante&amp;rsquo; cactus pears.

Comparison of Methods for Harvest Prediction in ‘Gigante’ Cactus Pear

Behavior analysis and plant expression are the answers the researcher needs to construct predictive models that minimize the effects of the uncertainties of field production. The objective of this study was to compare the simple and multiple linear regression methods and the artificial neural networks to allow the maximum security in the prediction of harvest in &amp;lsquo;Gigante&amp;rsquo; cactus pear. The uniformity test was conducted at the Federal Institute of Bahia, Campus Guanambi, Bahia, Brazil, coordinates 14&amp;deg;13&amp;prime;30&amp;Prime; S, 42&amp;deg;46&amp;prime;53&amp;Prime; W and altitude of 525 m. At 930 days after planting, we evaluated 384 basic units, in which were measured the following variables: plant height (PH); cladode length (CL), width (CW) and thickness (CT); cladode number (CN); total cladode area (TCA); cladode area (CA) and cladode yield (Y). For the comparison between the artificial neural networks (ANN) and regression models (single and multiple-SLR and MLR), we considered the mean prediction error (MPE), the mean quadratic error (MQE), the mean square of deviation (MSD) and the coefficient of determination (R2).The values estimated by the ANN 7-5-1 showed the best proximity to the data obtained in field conditions, followed by ANN 6-2-1, MLR (TCA and CT), SLR (TCA) and SLR (CN). In this way, the ANN models with the topologies 7-2-1 and 6-2-1, MLR with the variables total cladode area and cladode thickness and SLR with the isolated descriptors total cladode area and cladode number, explain 85.1; 81.5; 76.3; 74.09 and 65.87%, respectively, of the yield variation. The ANNs were more efficient at predicting the yield of the &amp;lsquo;Gigante&amp;rsquo; cactus pear when compared to the simple and multiple linear regression models.

Morphological characterization of cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) accessions from Agadir, Morocco

The North Africa region falls under arid and semi-arid climate and it is considered as a hot spot for climate change. To face feed shortage, increase income of the rural poor and to mitigate the effect of climate change, around 1 million ha of cactus crop has been planted in Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco. Aware of the importance of germplasm, in-situ collections are being initiated in the region where promising accessions have been introduced from many countries. The objective of this contribution was to assess the genetic diversity of 20 cactus pear accessions from the in-situ collection located in the INRA Morocco research station of Agadir using morphological characterization based on FAO-Cactusnet descriptor. The data were subjected to Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Agglomerative Hierarchical Clustering (AHC) using XLSTAT 2015 package. The results showed that the accessions can be discriminated by the morphological descriptors. Many of these morphological descriptors are significantly correlated as the number of cladodes and the number of fruits (r=0.73), the number of cladodes and the plant diameter (r=0.73), the length of the cladode and the plant height (r=0.7), the length of the spine and the number of areoles (r=0.67). The cladode shape and the number of spines and areoles are the recommended descriptors, and are capable to discriminate accessions with a suitable accuracy. Other descriptors do not seem to influence the morphological characterization as the cladode thickness, the number of spine, the plant height and the cladode shape index. Therefore, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Agglomerative Hierarchical Clustering (AHC) are good tools to segregate accessions using a reduced number of morphological descriptors. Another important finding is that the number of morphological descriptors may be reduced without potential risk of reducing the accuracy of the phenotypic characterization.

The effect of soil volume on the growth of roots and canopy of Opuntia ficus-indica

The influence of soil volume on root development and canopy growth rates of cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) was studied at Palermo University, Italy, in 2014-2016. In November 2014, 60 1-year-old O. ficus-indica cladodes were planted in pots containing five different soil volumes, 50, 33, 18, 9 or 5 L, in a complete randomized design with three replications. Root dry mass, total number of cladodes and canopy dry mass were measured after 6, 12, 18 and 24 months. The results revealed a significant effect of soil volume and sampling time and their interaction (P<0.01) on root dry mass, total number of cladodes and canopy dry mass. Root dry mass ranged between 23 and 206 g, with the highest value for plants grown in 50 L soil volume, sampled after 24 months of planting. The highest number of cladodes was produced by the plants raised in the highest soil volume (50 L) after 24 months of planting and the lowest number was in the lowest soil volume (5 L). A linear increase in canopy dry mass was observed with respect to increased soil volume. Increased soil volume had a significant and positive effect on the roots:canopy dry mass ratio. It is concluded that the restriction of soil availability in O. ficus-indica resulted in major growth limitation for root and canopy.

Morphological characterization of Opuntia spp. accessions for potential use as a forage crop in dry areas of Bolivia

Morphological characterization is an important procedure to identify desirable traits that could be used to detect accessions from Opuntia spp. for usage as forage in arid and semiarid zones of Bolivia. In this study, 80 accessions of Opuntia spp. were collected from Cochabamba and La Paz. The characterization was based on morphological traits using 2-year-old plants that were already well established in the experimental field at the Forage Research Center, Cochabamba. Plant descriptors, with five variables (qualitative and quantitative), and cladode descriptors, with 24 variables (qualitative and quantitative), were considered. Multivariate principal component analysis and cluster analysis showed two groups, both with two sub-established groups; the first group represents accessions with upright, medium and arborescent habitus and the second group represents accessions with spreading and shrubby habitus. The results of the cluster analysis indicate that the two groups obtained are independent of the origin of collection, suggesting that the high diversity of Opuntia spp. is not determined by the zone of collection. The accessions differed with respect to many morphological traits: thicker cladodes; absence of spines, form of plant, serous accession, longest cladode, and large number of cladodes. Other accessions formed a more homogeneous group. The following growth habits were observed in the majority of studied accessions: spreading, shrubby, arbustive, medium and less, upright and arborescent. Four accessions with desirable traits to be used as fodder were identified. The traits considered for use as a forage crop are plants with no or few spines, without disease, long and wide cladode and large number of cladodes.

Assessment of cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica L. Mill) accessions for growth, yield and nutritional parameters under pot culture

A pot experiment was conducted at BAIF Development Research Foundation, Urulikanchan, Pune, India during 2014-2016 to study the biomass production performance of four cactus accessions as a source of fodder for livestock. Single matured cladodes of individual accessions were planted in plastic pots during August 2014 and were harvested 18 months after planting. The growth and yield observations were recorded during harvesting and fresh cladodes were analyzed for nutritional parameters in the laboratory. The study revealed that the highest green biomass yield per plant was recorded in accession 1270 (1.74 kg) followed by 1271 (1.45 kg), 1280 (1.39 kg) and the lowest was in accession 1308 (1.36 kg). The maximum fresh weight per cladode was observed in accession 1280 (448.84 g) followed by 1270 (436.75 g), 1271 (394.73 g) and the minimum was in accession 1308 (150.69 g). The more number of cladodes (9.0) were found in accession 1308 followed by 1270 (4.0), 1271 (3.69) and the least (3.10) was in accession 1280. The maximum cladodes area of 333.14 cm2 was recorded in accession 1270 followed by 1280 (310.84 cm2) and the lowest was in accession 1308 (95.61 cm2). The nutritional evaluation of fresh cladodes revealed dry matter in the range of 8.24 to 11.15 %, crude protein 4.00 to 6.03% and crude fiber 7.06 to 8.15%.

Morpho-physiology, yield, and water-use efficiency of&lt;i&gt;Opuntia ficus-indica&lt;/i&gt; irrigated with saline water

Forage cactus pear is considered a xerophilic plant, so it is adapted to harsh semiarid conditions and is a forage resource of significant importance for animal production in regions that are subject to food shortage and long dry periods. We aimed to evaluate the morphometric and physiologic characteristics and water-use efficiency of ‘Gigante’ forage cactus pear under different settings of irrigation depth and irrigation intervals with saline water. The treatments included seven conditions of water application: rainfed, 5 liters of water per linear meter every 15 days; 7% reference evapotranspiration (ETo) with a 15-day irrigation interval; 15% ETo with a 7-day irrigation interval; 33% ETo with a 3-day irrigation interval; 50% ETo with a 2-day irrigation interval; and 100% ETo with daily irrigation. Likewise, the use of saline water (3.6 dS m-1) as irrigation water on forage cactus pear did not stress the crop even in the presence of salts. The treatment with saline water and 33% ETo with a 3-day irrigation interval increased the plant height, number of cladodes, cladode area index, green mass and dry matter yields of forage cactus pear.

Cultivation of cactus pear forage propagated through the method of fractionation of cladode

Between the varieties of Cactus Pear Forage resistant to Cochineal Carmine, the Orelha de Elefante Mexicana (OEM), Baiana (BA) and Miuda (MI) were found. The adoption of these varieties and dissemination in the areas damaged by this plague are directly related to provision of seeds cladodes. The method of propagation through fractionation of cladode is an alternative in cases where this availability is deficient. The experiment is aimed at analyzing the development of varieties of Cactus Pear Forage through propagation by fractionation of cladode. The experiment was conducted in randomized design blocks factorial 3×5 with three repetitions, corresponding to three varieties of Cactus Pear and five fractions of cladode (whole, 1/2 cladode, 1/4 cladode, 1/2 cladode inferior and 1/2 cladode superior). The ways of propagation did not affect the survival of the plant and number of cladodes. Major heights and widths of plants were obtained with whole cladodes. The whole cladode proportioned higher productivity in green and dry mass. The content of dry matter was superior in variety MI and the major productivity in OEM and BA. It was concluded that fractionation of cladode is mostly indicated in OEM but was absent in MI. Key words: Cochineal carmine, nopalea, opuntia, resistant varieties.