GROWTH AND CO2 UPTAKE FOR CLADODES AND FRUIT OF THE CRASSULACEAN ACIDMETABOLISM SPECIES OPUNTIA-FICUS-INDICA DURING FRUIT-DEVELOPMENT

Growth and daily net CO2 uptake were measured for fruit of Opuntia fic us-indica and for its cladodes with 0, 5, 10 and 15 fruit and for clad odes after fruit removal. Growth of individual fruit decreased but fru it dry weight per cladode increased as the number of fruit per cladode increased. Removal of fruit decreased the total daily net CO2 uptake of the bearing cladode by about 10%. From 15 to 45 days after flowerin g, nocturnal CO2 uptake per unit area of the fruit averaged 19 of that of cladodes and then declined, as did the chlorophyll content and the activity of the CO2-fixing enzymes. Fruit growth for O. ficus-indica was supported by the bearing cladode as well as other cladodes, especi ally for cladodes with more than 5 fruit.