FRUIT CHARACTERIZATION OF TWENTY CACTUS PEAR (OPUNTIA SPP.) ACCESSIONS I. PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS AT HARVEST

In this paper, the horticultural quality of fruits of 20 accessions of cactus pear grown at the experimental orchard of the Universidad Autonoma of Chapingo is reported: ‘Reina or Alfajayucan’, Amarillo 2289, Amarilla Aguada, Amarilla Espinosa 3389, Amarilla Milpa Alta, ‘Burrona’, Cardón Blanco, Colorada, ‘Copena CE-II’, ‘Copena T-12’, ‘Copena T-5’, ‘Cristalina’, Jarilla Grande, Liso Forrajero, Rojo 3589, ‘Roja Pelona’, ‘Roja Vigor’, ‘Rubí Reina’, Sangre de Toro and Solferino 2589. Important differences were revealed with respect to quality attributes, except for the juice/pulp ratio, an indicator of succulence. The accessions with the largest rate of pulp relative to peel and seeds and the highest content of total soluble solids were ‘Liso Forrajera’ and ‘Cristalina’. ‘Cardon Blanco’ and ‘Sangre de Toro’ had the lowest pulp/peel and pulp/seeds rate.