ISHS Acta Horticulturae 675: III WOCMAP Congress on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants - Volume 1: Bioprospecting and Ethnopharmacology
INTRODUCING AND CULTIVATING COLUMNAR CACTI WITH MEDICINAL USES IN THE ARAB GULF REGION |
| Author: | A.A. ElObeidy |
| Keywords: | cuttings, drought resistance, medicinal crops, propagation |
| Abstract:
The search for appropriate medicinal plant species able to grow in the Gulf region is an ongoing activity. Columnar cactus species characteristics fit with most of the requirements of a drought resistant medicinal plant. Columnar cacti have high water-use efficiency and could be ideal for establishing medicinal crop plantations in the Gulf deserts. Cacti proved to tolerant high temperatures and were found to be highly adaptable to new environments. Three columnar cacti species with medicinal uses were tested in UAE deserts. The tested species are Carnegiea gigantea, Cereus validus, Pachycereus pecten-aboriginum. Plants were propagated by cuttings in the greenhouse. Cuttings developed roots within 2-4 weeks of planting. The propagated plants were acclimatized and transplanted into the field in the desert. The introduced species showed differences in growth performance and Carnegiea gigantea was found to be promising as a new medicinal crop for the Arab Gulf region. | |
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