TY - JOUR
T1 - Effect of nitrogen fertilization and organ removal on rebudding in Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Miller
AU - Nerd, A.
AU - Mizrahi, Y.
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors thank the Israel Ministry of Agriculture for financial support and agronomists J. Mouyal and E. Naus for their excellent technical assistance.
PY - 1994/1/1
Y1 - 1994/1/1
N2 - The effect of nitrogen fertilization (NH4NO3) and removal of the flowers and the young cladodes in the spring or removal of fruits in the summer on rebudding was studied in the cactus pear Opuntia ficus-indica, cultivar 'Ofer'. Formation of new flower buds was induced by removing the flowers of the spring flush and was further increased if the young cladodes were also removed. Nitrogen fertilization (0, 60, 120 kg ha-1) did not affect flower bud formation. Removal of fruits (mid-stage of development) and nitrogen fertilization (120 kg ha-1) promoted flower bud burst in the late summer. Fertilization combined with fruit removal gave the highest flower yield (68 flowers per plant). This was approximately one-third of the flower yield obtained in the most effective treatment of the spring study, i.e. removal of flowers together with young cladodes. Cladode production in the spring study was induced by the removal of flowers, young cladodes and the two together, the latter being the most effective treatment. Nitrogen enhanced the effect of organ removal on cladode production. In the summer study nitrogen fertilization combined with fruit removal produced the highest number of cladodes, but it was much lower than that obtained in the most effective treatment of the spring study.
AB - The effect of nitrogen fertilization (NH4NO3) and removal of the flowers and the young cladodes in the spring or removal of fruits in the summer on rebudding was studied in the cactus pear Opuntia ficus-indica, cultivar 'Ofer'. Formation of new flower buds was induced by removing the flowers of the spring flush and was further increased if the young cladodes were also removed. Nitrogen fertilization (0, 60, 120 kg ha-1) did not affect flower bud formation. Removal of fruits (mid-stage of development) and nitrogen fertilization (120 kg ha-1) promoted flower bud burst in the late summer. Fertilization combined with fruit removal gave the highest flower yield (68 flowers per plant). This was approximately one-third of the flower yield obtained in the most effective treatment of the spring study, i.e. removal of flowers together with young cladodes. Cladode production in the spring study was induced by the removal of flowers, young cladodes and the two together, the latter being the most effective treatment. Nitrogen enhanced the effect of organ removal on cladode production. In the summer study nitrogen fertilization combined with fruit removal produced the highest number of cladodes, but it was much lower than that obtained in the most effective treatment of the spring study.
KW - Cactus pear
KW - Cladodes
KW - Fertilization
KW - Out-of-season flowering
KW - Scozzolatura
KW - Second flush
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0028140878&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/0304-4238(94)90078-7
DO - 10.1016/0304-4238(94)90078-7
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:0028140878
SN - 0304-4238
VL - 59
SP - 115
EP - 122
JO - Scientia Horticulturae
JF - Scientia Horticulturae
IS - 2
ER -