Potential global adaptavity of spineless, progeny of Opuntia ficus indica 1281 x O. linheimerii 1250 as forage cultivars adapted to USDA cold hardiness zones 7 and 8

FELKER, P.; BUNCH, R.A.; BORCHERT, D.; GUEVARA, J.C.

Joao Pessoa, Brasil

Congreso; VI International Congress on Cactus Pear and Cochineal; 2009

Opuntia has long tradition of use for forage in Mexico, Brazil, South Africa, Tunisia and arid region of the US. The vast majotity of these cacti are spineless as spiny forage types are more difficult to work with. Some spiny Opuntias are very cold tolerant existing as far as 56 N in Alberta, Canada. In contrast, traditional spineless Opuntia ficus-indica species , normally used for fruits , are limited in extension to USDA cold hardiness zones 9 and 10 due to lack of cold hardiness. Discovery of spineless cold hardy O. ellisiana adapted to USDA cold hardiness zone 7 has the potential to greatly expand the range for livestock forage. Additionally new crosses between spineless O. ficus-indica and the cold hardy, but spiny Texas native O. linheimerii have produced spineless progeny that are currently being evaluated for forage characterists  in USDA cold hardiness zone 7 and 8 in Argentina. USDA computer models have been used to predict where spineless Opuntia types could be used in semi-arid areas world wide in USDA cold hardiness zones 7 and 8.