Fractionation of carbohydrates in cactus cladodes of genera Opuntia and Nopalea

D.V. Pessoa, A.P. Andrade, A.L.R. Magalhães, A.L. Teodoro, D.C. Santos, R.L. Valença, D.B. Cardoso, F.S. Araújo, G.D. Silva, S.N. Barbosa, É.S. Macêdo
Cactus cladodes (Opuntia and Nopalea) are of paramount importance in semi-arid regions, as it is adapted to the edaphoclimatic conditions of the region and because it has a high water content that can largely meet the needs of animals, especially in the dry period of the year. In this context, the main objective of this study was to evaluate the fractionation of carbohydrates from different cultivars of cactus cladodes of the genera Opuntia and Nopalea. The experimental design used was completely randomized, with eight treatments and four replications. The cultivars studied were Opuntia stricta Haw. (‘Orelha de Elefante Mexicana’ – OEM), Opuntia undulata (‘Orelha de Elefante Africana’ – OEA), Opuntia ficus-indica Mill. (‘Gigante’), Opuntia ficus-indica Mill. (‘IPA-20’), Opuntia atropes Rose (‘F-08’), Nopalea cochenillifera Dyck (‘IPA Sertânia’), Nopalea cochenillifera Salm Dyck (‘Miúda’), and Nopalea cochenillifera Dyck (‘F-21’). The ‘IPA Sertânia’ cactus cladodes showed a lower concentration of total carbohydrates (TC) compared to ‘Miúda’, ‘F-21’, ‘IPA-20’, ‘Gigante’, and OEM. There was a difference in the concentration of non-fibrous carbohydrates between the cultivars, but the least value was for the cactus cladodes from ‘IPA Sertânia’ (450.5 g kg‑1 DM) and the greatest value for OEM (616.6 g kg‑1 DM). OEM had a lower value of fibrous carbohydrates (210.0 g kg‑1 TC) and Fraction B2 (175.2 g kg‑1 TC). There was a difference in the concentration of fraction A+B1 with higher values for cactus cladodes OEM (743.3 g kg‑1 TC). The OEM cactus cladodes showed a higher concentration of NFC and A+B1 fractions, standing out among the other cultivars with higher concentrations of readily fermentable carbohydrates.
Pessoa, D.V., Andrade, A.P., Magalhães, A.L.R., Teodoro, A.L., Santos, D.C., Valença, R.L., Cardoso, D.B., Araújo, F.S., Silva, G.D., Barbosa, S.N. and Macêdo, É.S. (2022). Fractionation of carbohydrates in cactus cladodes of genera Opuntia and Nopalea. Acta Hortic. 1343, 115-118
DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2022.1343.16
https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2022.1343.16
Cactaceae, semi-arid, food, ruminants
English

Acta Horticulturae