6533b7defe1ef96bd1275cca

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Effect of cladode shading on growth and ripening of fruits of cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indicaL. Miller)

subject

description

SummaryFruiting cladodes of O. ficus-indica were covered with shade nets at different stages of the fruit development period to study the effect of the time and duration of shade on fruit growth, ripening time and harvest quality. Shading the fruiting cladodes 0, 15 and 30 d after full bloom (DAB) for a period of 15, 30, 45, 60 or 75 d significantly reduced fruit growth and ultimate harvest size. The longer the shading period the greater was the reduction of harvest fruit size. The greatest reduction of fruit growth (30%) occurred when the fruiting cladodes were shaded from bloom to harvest. Differences in growth rate beween fruits on shaded or sunlit cladodes begun to appear at 30 DAB and increased during the final swell of fruit development. The reduction of fruit growth lasted even after the removal of the shade fabric. Cladode shade resulted in a consistent delay of fruit ripening when the shading period exceeded 15 d. Soluble solids and firmness of the fruit were not significantly affected by cladode...