Full Length Research Paper

Evaluation of cactus pear fruit quality at Mara ADC, South Africa

Kwena Mokoboki¹*, Tsenolo Kgama² and Ntuwiseni Mmbi²

¹Department of Animal Science, North West University, Private bag x 2046, Mmabatho, 2735, South Africa.

²Mara Research Station, Private bag x 2467, Makhado, 0920, South Africa.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: 21576130@nwu.ac.za.

Accepted 13 November, 2008

   Abstract

The present study was conducted to evaluate quality of different Cultivars of cactus pear traits in Mara Research Station. Seven Cultivars (Nepgen, R1251, Sharsheret, Cross X, Berg x Mexican, Santa Rosa, Morado) of cactus pear were planted in a completely randomized design. Orchard consisted of 10 plants per Cultivar planted in a single row. No irrigation supplementation was given and pruning, pad thinning were performed. Data on fruit quality traits were collected from two different years (2005 and 2006) and subjected to analysis of variance using the general linear model procedure of statistical analyses system (SAS). All Cultivars in the first year had peel thickness of less than 6.00 mm and in the second year more than 6.00 mm. All Cultivars in the year 2005 and 2006 except Berg x Mexican and Nepgen had the fruit mass of more than 120 g, recommended for international market. The mean fruit mass decreased from 143.4 g in the first year to 127.3 g in the second year. The decrease might be due to low rainfall and temperature. Due to a decrease in fruit length in the second year, fruit shape shifted from being elliptic to ovoid shape, however the equatorial diameter remained constant. Total soluble solids (TSS) content increased from 13.17 ⁰Brix during the first year to 13.78 ⁰Brix in the second year. It was then concluded that in each year, the fruit quality change as a function as the type of Cultivar.

Key words: Quality, cactus pear, cultivars, South Africa.