Comparison of fruit quality for export of purple and green cactus pear

ORTÍN PATRICIA S.; LERA LUIS; TÁLAMO ANDRÉS; LOZANO LELIA; BOLDRINI CARLOS; VINOCUR R.; VISUARA M.

Paraiba, Brasil

Congreso; VI International Congress on Cactus Pear and Cochineal. VI General Meeting of FAO-CACTUSNET; 2007

FAO-CACTUSNET

In the province of Salta, of Argentina’s northwest, the culture of prickly pear is little developed, but exists an ecosystem with propitious characteristics for this implantation. The objective of the work was to evaluate the fruit quality of four ecotypes for export. Four harvests in 2.007 (19/01; 25/01; 01/02 and 07/02) of prickly pear took place in different places: Moldes ecotype (purple) in Coronel Moldes (LS 25º 17´; 65º 29´), Atamisqui and Nopalito (both purple) and Forrajera (green) in Cerrillos (LS 24º 53´; 65º 27´). In laboratory tests, the external quality was determined: weight, diameter, length, ground and maturity color; and also the internals: weight of pulp, pulp color, firmness and soluble solids content. The values were analyzed with the Kruskal-Wallis test. Moldes ecotype presented fruits of lowest external and internal qualities, itself being significantly different from the others (p= 0,0001 for weight, soluble solid and firmness). Atamisqui showed an average fruit weight of 128,55 g, but less soluble solid (11,2 %), the lowest of the four ecotypes. For Atamiski, the fourth harvest produced the heaviest fruits (143,93g). Nopalito presented an average weight of 133,3 g and acceptable soluble solid (12,0 %), but low percentage of pulp (39,0 %). Forrajera presented good size and weight (124,57g) and a high soluble solids (13,77 %), comparing with the other ecotypes, being its third harvest the best for the export by weight (119,00g) and solubles solids balance (14,09 %). Red Moldes and Nopalito would not fulfil the parameters of fruit quality for export.