Flowering and fruiting phenology, and physico-chemical characteristics of 2-year-old plants of six species of Opuntia from eight regions of Morocco

• Published in: The journal of horticultural science & biotechnology Vol. 90; no. 6; pp. 682 - 688
• Main Authors: El Kharrassi, Youssef, Mazri, Mouaad Amine, Mabrouk, Achraf, Nasser, Boubker, EL Mzouri, EL Houssine
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Headley Brothers Ltd 01.01.2015; Taylor & Francis
• Subjects: ash content; biotechnology; buds; cactus pears; cladodes; flowering; fruit maturity; fruiting; genotype; horticulture; monitoring; Opuntia; phenology; physicochemical properties; protein content; sugars; water content; Morocco
• ISSN: 1462-0316; 2380-4084
• DOI: 10.1080/14620316.2015.11668731

We have described the flowering and fruiting phenology of 14 accessions of six Opuntia species grown in Morocco: O. ficus-indica, O. robusta, O. aequatorialis, O. dillenii, O. leucotricha, and O. stricta. We also determined the physicochemical characteristics of their cladodes. For each accession, we used four-to-20 plants. Two systems were used to measure phenology: the extended Biologische Bundesanstalt, Bundessortenamt und Chemische Industrie (BBCH)-scale and the National Phenology Monitoring System. Five principal stages were described: the development of vegetatively-propagated organs (vegetative buds), the development of flower buds, flowering, fruit development, and fruit maturity. The number of vegetative buds varied significantly among the 14 accessions, while only four accessions produced flower buds. After reaching their final size, fruit lengths varied from 3.40 – 6.40 cm, while fruit diameters varied from 1.93 – 3.90 cm. The average cladode number differed significantly among genotypes and varied from 1.75 – 7.75. There were also significant differences in cladode length (13.75 – 30.63 cm), width (6.25 – 17.33 cm), thickness (0.65 – 1.38 cm), fresh weight (FW; 67.50 – 766.00 g), and dry weight (DW; 8.75 – 67.15 g) between species. Water content and ash content, as well as total protein and total sugar concentrations, showed significant differences and were within the ranges of 86.67 – 92.04% (w/w), 12.97 – 22.08 g 100 g–1 DW, 4.64 – 11.56 g 100 g–1 DW, and 3.22 – 12.51 g 100 g–1 DW, respectively. Our results will help in the development of agronomic management practices and improve the characterisation, valorisation, and use of cactus pear species grown in Morocco.