THE INFLUENCE OF CLADODE MORPHOLOGY ON THE CANOPY FORMATION OF FORAGE CACTUS PLANTS

Authors

  • Marcela Lúcia Barbosa Department of Agricultural Engineering, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, MG
  • Thieres George Freire da Silva Academic Unit of Serra Talhada, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Serra Talhada, PE
  • Sergio Zolnier Department of Agricultural Engineering, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, MG
  • Sérvulo Mercier Siqueira e Silva Experimental Unit of Arcoverde, Instituto Agronômico de Pernambuco, Arcoverde, PE
  • Antonio José Steidle Neto Universidade Federal de São João Del-Rei, Sete Lagoas, MG

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/1983-21252018v31n121rc

Keywords:

Statistical analysis. Clones. Biometrics data. Nopalea sp.. Opuntia sp..

Abstract

Here we aimed to evaluate the influence of cladode morphology on the canopy formation of forage cactus plants. The study was carried out in Serra Talhada, the State of Pernambuco, using the IPA Sertânia (IPA), Miúda (MIU), and Orelha de Elefante Mexicana (OEM) clones, which were submitted to three irrigation depths (2.5, 5.0, or 7.5 mm) and three irrigation intervals (7, 14, or 28 days) from March 2012 to August 2013. Cladode and plant canopy biometric data were obtained during the experimental period. We found that the characteristics of the second and third order cladodes contributed most to the canopy formation of clones of the genus Nopalea (IPA and MIU), whereas, for the genus Opuntia (OEM), the first and third order cladodes contributed most. Overall, we found that the influence of the cladode variables on the canopy growth of forage cactus is more associated with the characteristics of the genus than to the peculiarities of the clones.

Author Biographies

  • Marcela Lúcia Barbosa, Department of Agricultural Engineering, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, MG
    Doutoranda
  • Sergio Zolnier, Department of Agricultural Engineering, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, MG
    Professor Associado 4
  • Sérvulo Mercier Siqueira e Silva, Experimental Unit of Arcoverde, Instituto Agronômico de Pernambuco, Arcoverde, PE
    Pesquisador
  • Antonio José Steidle Neto, Universidade Federal de São João Del-Rei, Sete Lagoas, MG
    Professor Adjunto

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Published

11-12-2017

Issue

Section

Zootechnics