[en] The cactus is a succulent plant resistant to droughts. According to the recently reviewed classification, cacti belong to the family of Opuntiaceae Desv. (synon. Cactaceae Juss.) with Opuntia Mill. as the typical genus. This genus is economically the most important in the family, as it includes a group of cactus pear plants which play an important role in the agricultural systems of arid and semi-arid regions. Flowering of the cactus pear fruit is an important determinant of the fruit harvesting period. The goal of this paper is to present the physiology of the cactus pear and to explain in detail the biology of its flowering and fruiting processes. This study is also enriched by our observations on the flowering and fruiting of three varieties of cactus pear that we followed for two successive years in southern Morocco.
Anon. Field botany at Williams College. Ed. Williams College. USA; 2006
GRIN. Opuntiaceae information from NPGS (National plant germplasm system) of GRIN (Germplasm resources information network). Taxonomic information on cultivated plants in the USA. National genetic resources program. United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural research service. Maryland, USA; 2007
Anderson EF. The cactus Family. Timber Press. Oregon, USA; 2001
FAO. Agro-industrial utilization of cactus pear. Rural Infrastructure and Agro Industrial Division. FAO, Rome; 2013
Inglese P, Basile F, Schirra M. Cactus pear fruit production. In: Nobel PS editor. Cacti: Biology and uses. University of California Press; 2002. p. 163-183
Mulas M, Loi M, El Mzouri EH, Chiriyaa A, El Gharous M, Aouragh EH, Arif A, Mazhar M. Cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica Mill.) genetic resources from central regions of Morocco. Agr. Med. 2006; 136: 11-19
Reyes-Aguero JA, Aguirre JR, Valiente-Banuet A. Reproductive biology of Opuntia: A review. J Arid Environ. 2006; 64: 549-585
Nerd A, Mizrahi Y. Reproductive biology of cactus fruit crops. Hort Rev. 2010; 18: 321-346
Santo-Ares T, Venusa de Silva M, Alves de Almeido CM, Oliveira D. Genetic diversity in cactus clones using ISSR Markers. Acta Hort. 2009; 811: 55-65
Inglese P. Cactus pear Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill. for fruit production: An overview. FAO Cactusnet Newsletter special issue; 2010
Patel S. Reviewing the prospects of Opuntia pears as low cost functional foods. Rev Env Sci Biot. 2013; 12(3): 223-234
Nobel PS. Cacti: Biology and uses. University of California Press; 2002
Pimienta-Barrios E, Del Castillo RF. Reproductive Biology. In: Nobel PS editor. Cacti: Biology and uses. University of California Press; 2002. p. 75-90
Segantini DM, Torres LA, Boliani AC, Leonel S. Phenology of cactus pear in Selviria-MS State, Brazil. Rev Bras Frutic. 2010; 32(2): 630-636
Mulas M. Blossoming and fructification cycle of Opuntia ficvus-indica Mill. in the Mediterranean environment. Acts of the 2nd International Congress on cactus pear and cochineal. Santiago, Chile; 1992. p. 53-60
Reyes-Aguero JA, Aguire JR, Rodriguez-Flores JL. Variación morfológica de Opuntia (cactaceae) en relación con su domesticación en la altiplanicie meridional de México. Interciencia. 2005; 30(8): 476-484
Lenz M, Orth AI. Mixed reproduction systems in Opuntia monacantha (Cactaceae) in Southern Brazil. Braz J Bot. 2012; 35(2): 49-58
Chessa I, Nieddu G. Descriptors for cactus pear (Opuntia spp.). FAO Cactusnet Newsletter special issue. Tipografia moderna. Sassari, Italy; 1997
Barbara KM. Characterization of cactus pear germplasm in South Africa. A thesis of Philosophiae Doctor. Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of the Free State, South Africa; 2007
Arba M, Falisse A, Choukr-Allah R, Paul R. Phenology of flowering and fruiting of cactus pear and effect of NP fertilizing. Acta Hort. 2015; 1067: 31-38
Arba M, Sharoua E. 'Mles' and 'Draibina' wild populations of cactus pear in Khouribga area. Acta Hort. 2013; 995: 63-68
Valdez-Cepeda RD, Blanco-Macias F, Magallanes-Quintanar R, Vasquez-Alvarado R, Mendez-Gallegos de Jesus S. Fruit weight and number of fruits per cladode depend on fruiting cladode fresh and dry weight in Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill. variety. Sci Hortic. 2013; 161: 165-169