Forage yield and morphological traits of cactus pear genotypes

Abstract

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 and physiology of ‘Sunrise’ papaya seedlings in response to salinity and humic acid

“…In summary, the application of humic acid appears to be a viable alternative for the production of papaya seedlings using brackish water for irrigation, provided that the increases in growth and gas exchange are directly linked to plant productivity (Ramos et al, 2021;Kumar et al, 2022). These findings contribute to broadening our knowledge of the physiological aspects of C. papaya growth with saline water irrigation as well as the practical application of humic acid to improve papaya seedling production under salt stress.…”