Performance evaluation of Opuntia ficus-indica through cladode rgeneration at hot arid regIon of Jaisalmer, India

Abstract

Opuntia ficus indica has high economic importance worldwide including its fodder value. To overcome the emerging fodder scarcity in wetern Rajasthan, the alternate resources with high fodder value are utmost important. So, the present study was carried out to assess the potential of O. ficus - indica by selecting better germplasm through its cladode regeneration capacity. Five including native and exotic collections of O. ficus indica subjected to nursery evaluation at ICAR - Central Arid zone research institute, Regional research station, Jaisalmer (Rajasthan) based on seven characters related to cladode regeneration revealed significant variability. Highest co - efficient of variability (CV) observed in primary daughter cladode number (CV 94.7%) followed by secondary daughter cladode number (56.9%) and days to sprouting (36%) Pearson´s correlation analysis also revealed significant positive correlation between primary and secondary daughter cladode number (0.85) followed by primary daughter cladode number and tertiary daughter cladode (0.84). The characters, days to sprouting showed significant negative correlation with characters under study tertiary daughter cladode number ( - 0.96),primary daughter cladode lengths ( - 0.91),secondary cladode number ( - 0.67) and tertiary cladode number (0.74 and 0.05, respectively). Among five O. ficus - indica germplasm evaluated under study, CAZRI Botanical Garden showed better regeneration capability with earliness (42days) in sprouting along with higher number of primary (4.9), secondary (3.8) and tertiary (2.0) cladodes than others