Abstract

PEREZ-SANCHEZ, Rosa E. et al. Characterization, morphological modeling and proximate analysis of Opuntia ficus-indica and O. atropes during the dry and rainy seasons. Nova scientia [online]. 2015, vol.7, n.15, pp.133-152. ISSN 2007-0705.

The aim of this research was to characterize and to model schematically morphological indicators (long, wide and thick) and the proximate analysis of the species Opuntia atropes and Opuntia ficus-indica during rainy and dry seasons. This research was made at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine-UMSNH. Cladodes from both species and seasons were obtained from two plots: a plot with cultural practices (PCP) and a plot without cultural practices (PSP). 30 plants/species/plot (15/season) were selected randomly and 60 cladodes were sampled: 50% by level (3rd and 4th level); 40 of O. ficus-indica (20 in PCP and 20 in PSP) and 20 cladodes of O. atropes in PSP. The morphological and proximate indicators for each species, levels and seasons were obtained. The statistical analysis was performed by the Fixed Effect Model and statistical differences (α=0.05), between plots, species and seasons, were calculated by comparing the least square means. Results showed that the mean fresh weight was greater during dry season (P<0.05) in O. ficus-indica in PSP (1.59 ±0.25 kg) than in rainy season (0.85 ±0.18 kg), however, the nutritional value increased during dry season, specifically in ether extract (2.97 ±1.04%) and in nitrogen free extract (64.17 ±2.36%). Cladodes of O. atropes showed morphological indicators of smaller magnitude (P<0.05) than O. ficus-indica. In addition to this, nutritional characteristics of both species were similar during dry season as follows: crude protein, 4.70 and 5.64%; ether extract, 0.53 and 0.57%; nitrogen free extract, 42.18 and 40.82% for O. atropes and O. ficus-indica, respectively. The fresh weight and the crude fiber of O. ficus-indica decreases in the rainy season, while the fat and carbohydrates is increased in that time, but the crude protein values remains stable for both seasons. Meanwhile, O. atropes showed morphological characteristics of lesser magnitude than O. ficus-indica. However, their nutritional characteristics are similar to this, both in rainy and dry season.

Keywords : Opuntia ssp; cultural practices; proximate analysis; season.