Open AccessForage yield and morphological traits of cactus pear genotypes
Author(s) -
João Paulo de Farias Ramos,
Alberto Jefferson da Silva Macêdo,
Edson Mauro Santos,
Ricardo Loiola Edvan,
Wandrick Hauss de Sousa,
Alexandre Fernandes Perazzo,
Anderson Samuel Silva,
Felipe Queiroga Cartaxo
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
acta scientiarum. agronomy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.438
H-Index - 28
eISSN - 1807-8621
pISSN - 1679-9275
DOI - 10.4025/actasciagron.v43i1.51214
Subject(s) - cactus , biology , forage , pear , agronomy , horticulture , cladodes
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).