Effects of cultivation environmental factors on the growth of the edible cactus (Nopalea cochenillifera) grown under hydroponic conditions

Plants are typically grown using soil as the primary medium to supply the elements they need for growth; however, as populations increase and land decreases, knowledge of other growing media, such as hydroponics, becomes important.
Hydroponics has potential advantages for the production of edible cacti, but few studies have investigated their effects on growth.
In this study, we investigated the effects of cultivation conditions such as pH of the nutrient solution and NaCl concentration on the growth of the edible cactus Nopalea cochenillifera (L.) Salm-Dyckand in hydroponics.
First, the cladodes were grown in nutrient solutions with pH values of 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, or 12. Daughter cladodes emerged from mother cladodes and continued to grow, but fresh weight (FW) at pH 2 and 4 of daughter cladodes was less than one-fifth of the other treatments.
The root growth was inhibited under these conditions.
Second, cladodes were exposed to 0, 25, 50, 75, 100, or 200 mM NaCl.
Daughter cladodes emerged from mother cladodes and continued to grow in all treatments, but their FW were significantly smaller in 75, 100, and 200 mM treatment.
Root FW became small in 100 mM, and no root emerged in 200 mM. Our results indicated that the pH and NaCl concentration of the nutrient solution had significant effects on the growth and development of daughter branches.
Therefore, controlling cultivation conditions is important for improving the productivity and quality of edible cacti in hydroponics.

IV Asian Horticultural Congress – AHC2023

S. Tsuchimoto, K. Okada, K. Kondo, T. Horibe

Ca, Mg, cladodes, heavy metal, hydroponics, Opuntia, phytoremediation

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2024.1404.198