P. Inglese et al., THE EFFECT OF DIFFERENT AMOUNTS OF CLADODE REMOVAL ON REFLOWERING OF CACTUS PEAR (OPUNTIA-FICUS-INDICA (L) MILLER), Journal of Horticultural Science, 69(1), 1994, pp. 61-65
The removal of the spring flush of flowers and cladodes at bloom promo
tes reflowering in cactus pear. Studies were conducted to investigate
the influence of different amounts of spring flush cladode removal (10
0%, 75%, 50%, 25%, 0%) on cactus pear reflowering. A positive linear c
orrelation between the severity of spring flush cladode removal and th
e degree of reflowering was found. Primary (spring flush) and secondar
y (second flush) cladodes showed the same fertility in the year after
formation. Two year old cladodes showed a significantly lower fertilit
y and have only a marginal effect on plant yield.