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The Effect of Variety and Location on Cactus Pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) Fruit Quality

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Abstract

Little is known about the performance of South African cactus pear varieties in different agro-ecological regions. Effects of locality on internal quality parameters of available cactus pear varieties were examined. With only one exception, no significant differences among the mean replication values for the different parameters between the different locations were observed. The differences between mean values for most individual parameters at the three localities were highly significant. Highly significant differences between the mean values for the measured characteristics were observed, not only among the locations (except for the pulp glucose values), but also for the influences of genotype and interaction between locality and genotype. Significant variations existed between mean values of the different characteristics between localities. Genotype × environmental interactions were noted. It was concluded that Meyers is the most appropriate cultivar for economical purposes in South Africa.

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Abbreviations

ANOVA:

Analysis of variance

°Bx:

Degrees Brix

m.a.s.l.:

Meters above sea level

TSS:

Total soluble solids

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Dr. Herman Fouché, Dr. Jacques van Zyl, Mrs. Mariena Jordaan and Mrs. Sheila Besten for their help in providing and picking the cactus pears as well as Mr. Piet Botes and Mr. Sarel Marais for their assistance with the HPLC analyses.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbial, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology, University of the Free State, P.O. Box 339, Bloemfontein, 9300, South Africa

    Maryna de Wit, Philip Nel & Gernot Osthoff

  2. Department of Plant Sciences, University of the Free State, P.O. Box 339, Bloemfontein, 9300, South Africa

    Maryke T. Labuschagne

Authors
  1. Maryna de Wit
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  2. Philip Nel
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  3. Gernot Osthoff
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  4. Maryke T. Labuschagne
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Correspondence to Maryna de Wit.

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de Wit, M., Nel, P., Osthoff, G. et al. The Effect of Variety and Location on Cactus Pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) Fruit Quality. Plant Foods Hum Nutr 65, 136–145 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11130-010-0163-7

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