ISHS Acta Horticulturae 296: Tropical Fruits, XXIII I.H.C.
FLOWERING AND FRUIT GROWTH IN OPUNTIA FICUS-INDICA |
| Authors: | G. Nieddu, D. Spano |
| Abstract:
The research, carried out in a commercial plantation of prickly pear (Opuntia ficus-indica), showed that the internal organs grow independently from the Mill. pericarp. When the flower bud reaches a length of 0.5 cm the gynaeceum and the androecium are visible inside. The flower bud growth rate was represented by a sigmoidal curve, the fruit growth changes based on the fruit width values resulted in a double-sigmoid curve, while the increases length followed a sigmoidal curve. The time interval between bud setting to ripening required a maximum of 14 weeks, compared with the 22 weeks observed in South Africa. | |
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