55 research outputs found
Cytology and mating systems in the climbing cacti Hylocereus and Selenicereus
Chromosome numbers and meiotic behavior are reported for the climbing cacti species Hylocereus undatus, Hylocereus polyrhizus, and Selenicereus megalanthus. The Hylocereus spp. are diploid (2n 5 22), while S. megalanthus is a tetraploid (2n 5 44). Irregular chromosome disjunction at anaphase I in pollen mother cells of S. megalanthus is probably the major cause of its reduced pollen viability and may contribute to low seed set, low number of viable seeds and, consequently, low fruit mass. A pollination study confirmed self-incompatibility in H. polyrhizus and a weakened incompatibility reaction in H. undatus and S. megalanthus. Major crossability barriers do not exist between the Hylocereus spp. investigated. Reciprocal intergeneric crosses were successful between Hylocereus spp. and S. megalanthus, suggesting that an Hylocereus sp. Might be one of the diploid progenitors of the tetraploid S. megalanthus. The implications of the results on cacti nomenclature and systematics are briefly discussed
Identifying non-destructive growth and maturity indexes of Prickly pear (Opuntia albicarpa S. Var. Burrona) and evaluation of freeze-drying conditions
Around the world, prickly pear fruits are valued as a source of dietary functional compounds and
ingredients for innovative foods. Growth and physicochemical changes of Opuntia albicarpa S. fruits
were recorded from 0 to 132 days-after-flowering (DAF) to identify non-destructive maturity-indices.
Optimum-ripened fruits were freeze-dried to study physicochemical and functional characteristics of
dried and rehydrated pulp. Principal component analysis confirmed growth turned into fruit
ripening in DAF 99, and it lasted until DAF 132. Changes in color parameters of the peel correlated
with fruit texture and pulp sugar content and taste index (P < 0.01). During freeze-drying, plate
temperature had more significant effects than the thickness (P < 0.05). At 30°C, color ΔE between
dried and fresh slices augmented, but, texture Δ´s (medium force) between rehydrated and fresh
pulp was lower. Color tests could be used to harvest commercially-ripened fruits. Freeze-drying at
30°C improves the rehydrated slices texture regarding thickness maintaining rehydration
coefficients.Las tunas son apreciadas en todo el mundo como fuente de compuestos funcionales dietarios
e ingredientes para alimentos innovadores. Para identificar índices de maduración no destructivos,
se registraron cambios en el crecimiento y en los parámetros fisicoquímicos de frutos de Opuntia
albicarpa S. entre los días después de la floración (DAF) 0 al 132. Frutos con maduración óptima
fueron liofilizados para evaluar características fisicoquímicas y funcionales de pulpa seca
y rehidratada. El análisis de componentes principales confirmo que el crecimiento dio lugar a la
maduración en el DAF 99 y ésta prosiguió hasta el DAF 132. Los cambios en parámetros de color en
cáscara correlacionaron con la textura del fruto, y en pulpa, con el contenido de azúcares y el índice
de sabor (P< 0.01). Durante la liofilización, la temperatura de placa tiene más efectos significativos
que el espesor (P≤ 0.05). A 30°C, el ΔE de color entre la pulpa seca y fresca aumentó, pero, el Δ de
textura (fuerza media) fue menor entre la rehidratada y la fresca. Se pueden emplear evaluaciones
de color para cosechar frutos en su madurez comercial, y liofilizar estos frutos a 30°C mejora la
textura sin importar el espesor, manteniendo los coeficientes de rehidratación.This work was supported by the SIMORELOS program of CONACyT
Quality of pitaya fruit (Hylocereus undatus) as influenced by storage temperature and packaging
Urea concentration on vegetative development and nutrition of Cactaceae epiphytic species
Biology, Flowering and Fruiting of the Cactus Opuntia spp.: A Review and Some Observations on Three Varieties in Morocco
Floração e frutificação em diferentes tipos de cladódios de pitaia-vermelha em Lavras -MG
Influência da fonte material e do tempo de cura na propagação vegetativa da pitaya vermelha (Hylocereus undatus Haw)
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