Source: TEXAS A & M UNIVERSITY- KINGSVILLE submitted to
ALTERNATIVE CROPS FOR ARID LANDS
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
TERMINATED
Funding Source
SPECIAL GRANT
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
0192152
Grant No.
2002-34312-11902
Project No.
TEXW-2002-06031
Proposal No.
2002-06031
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Program Code
HE
Project Start Date
May 1, 2002
Project End Date
Apr 30, 2005
Grant Year
2002
Project Director
Gardiner, D. T.
Recipient Organization
TEXAS A & M UNIVERSITY- KINGSVILLE
700 UNIVERSITY BLVD.
KINGSVILLE,TX 78363
Performing Department
RESEARCH & SPONSORED PROGRAMS
Non Technical Summary
The semiarid region of the United States near the Texas-Mexico border suffers from chronic high unemployment and low per capita income. Other than irrigated farmland in some tracts of land in the region, the land itself is relatively unproductive due to low and erratic rainfall and high evapotranspiration. Two of the most abundant plant species in the region are prickly pear and mesquite. These species dominate the biomass in some landscapes in the region. Developing improved genetic materials and production techniques, and expanding uses for the products of these two plants, can favorably impact the economy of the region. Genetic improvements in prickly pear hold much promise for improved productivity. Also, as the best varieties or cultivars are identified, the response of those plants to agronomic inputs should be known. Whether it is physically and economically feasible to fertilize or irrigate prickly pear will depend upon the response of the plant to these inputs. This response is not yet documented. Mesquite is abundant on rangeland and unimproved pastures in the region. Wood from the mesquite tree is prized for its grain and color, but is rarely available in large boards because of the convoluted growth habit of the trunk and branches. Identification of superior genetic strains of mesquite that produce tall, straight trees could help turn this robust, hearty nuisance into a viable crop.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
100%
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
1020630200010%
1021099101010%
1021499101010%
1211099101010%
1211499101010%
1211630101020%
2021099108010%
2021499108010%
2021699108010%
Knowledge Area
202 - Plant Genetic Resources; 102 - Soil, Plant, Water, Nutrient Relationships; 121 - Management of Range Resources;

Subject Of Investigation
1099 - Tropical/subtropical fruit, general/other; 0630 - Chaparral and shrub lands; 1499 - Vegetables, general/other; 1630 - Summer annual grasses; 1699 - Pasture and forage crops, general/other;

Field Of Science
1080 - Genetics; 1010 - Nutrition and metabolism; 2000 - Chemistry;
Goals / Objectives
The objectives of the proposed project are as follows. Objective 1. Develop and evaluate improved prickly pear fruit and nopalito varieties. Objective 2. Maintain plots of top-performing fruit, nopalito, and forage clones to collect data on commercial production and to serve as seed plots for commercial producers. Also to register three previously developed varieties through USDA/CSSA channels and to disseminate the germplasm as required by the registration process. Objective 3. Determine prickly pear fruit and nopalito response to plant nutrients, including NPK fertilizer, micronutrient fertilizer, and organic biosolids. Objective 4. Determine prickly pear response to irrigation, and evaluate water-use efficiency of irrigated prickly pear. Objective 5. Evaluate height and caliper of mesquite trees planted from seed obtained from trees identified as having tall and straight trunks.
Project Methods
Procedures to be followed in the proposed project are outlined below. Objective 1. Develop and evaluate improved prickly pear fruit and nopalito varieties. Much prickly pear germplasm has been propagated in the cactus plots at Texas A&M-Kingsville. All these accessions will be monitored for survival and for agronomic characteristics including, palatability of nopalitos, quantity and quality of fruit juice, suitability of plants for forage, and aesthetic value of plants for ornamental use. Objective 2. Maintain plots of top-performing fruit, nopalito, and forage clones to collect data on commercial production and to serve as seed plots for commercial producers. Ten varieties were chosen based on quality factors. Eight of the ten were fruit varieties and two were nopalito varieties. Six two-cladode cuttings were planted at 2-meter intervals in each sub-plot and each such planting was replicated three times within the production plot. Growth rate, fruit production and quality, and other characteristics will be monitored each year to acquire data that can be provided to producers. Objective 3. Determine prickly pear fruit and nopalito response to plant nutrients, including NPK fertilizer, micronutrient fertilizer, and organic biosolids. Three varieties of prickly pear from the production plots will be chosen for fertility studies. Four treatments will be established: NPK fertilizer, NPK plus micronutrients, livestock manure biosolids, and control. Each experimental unit to which a treatment is assigned will consist of five newly propagated plants. Each treatment will be replicated over four experimental units in a completely randomized design. Following the establishment of treatments, cactus growth characteristics will be monitored for at least two years. Data collected will include growth rate of pads, presence of spines, number of fruit produced, sugar content of fruit juice, and other data as deemed appropriate. Objective 4. Determine prickly pear response to irrigation. Prickly pear will be established in small plots within a sprinkler-irrigated field. As under Objective 3 above, each experimental unit will consist of five individuals, and each treatment will be replicated over four experimental units. Two treatments, irrigated and control will be established. Amounts of water applied will be measured. Soil moisture status will be monitored. Cactus growth characteristics will be monitored for at least two years and will be correlated to water application data and to TDR readings obtained from the soil. Objective 5. Evaluate height and caliper of mesquite trees planted from seed obtained from trees identified as having tall and straight trunks. About 800 seedlings were established from 27 seed source. Beginning in the year 2002, these trees will be evaluated annually to determine their growth rates, and the length, straightness, and caliper of their trunks.

Progress 05/01/02 to 04/30/05

Outputs
Cactus germplasm was maintained at the Kingsville site and was disseminated to many growers and researchers around the nation and the world. Additional researchers have planned future studies involving cactus from this collection. A successful study of cladode production in response to fertilizers was completed in Kingsville. Also in Kingsville, a subsequent study of cladode response to foliar fertilizers was inconclusive and will be continued as part of another study. With the termination of the project, cactus germplasm will no longer be offered for free, but will be sold to growers and researchers. Also, mesquite germplasm was maintained. Height, caliper, and other data were collected from young trees planted with the intention of identifying superior mesquite germplasm. The seeds originated from adult trees found to have superior lumber qualities, especially tall and straight trunks. Survival of the seedlings was poor, but a few notably vigorous specimen have been identified.

Impacts
Superior gerplasm of mesquite and prickly pear has been, and will continue to be, identified and made available to the local economies. Also, agronomic practices supportive of commercial cactus and mesquite production have been documented. Improved cactus growing practices will benefit local cactus growers, whether interested in nopalitoes, cactus fruit, forage, or ornamental plants. Also, cactus from the germplasm collection has been involved in various scholarly works as indicated in the list of publications.

Publications

  • Velarde, M., P. Felker, and D. Gardiner. 2005. Influence of elemental sulfur, micronutrients, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium and potassium on growth of Prosopis alba on high pH soils in Argentina. Journal of Arid Environments 62:525-539.
  • Galizzi, F.A., P. Felker, C. Gonzales, and D. Gardiner. 2004. Correlations between soil and cladode nutrient concentrations and fruit yield and quality in cactus pears, Opuntia ficus indica, in a traditional farm setting in Argentina. Journal of Arid Environments 59:115-132.
  • Kendrick, R., and P. Friederici. 2004. Prickly personalities. Audubon (March) 83-89.
  • Griffith, M.P. 2004. The origins of an important cactus crop, Opuntia ficus-indica: New molecular evidence. American Journal of Botany 91:1915-1921.
  • Pasapula, J.S. 2003. Cactus cladode propagation response to plant nutrients. M.S. Thesis. Texas A&M University-Kingsville, Kingsville, Texas.


Progress 10/01/03 to 09/30/04

Outputs
Cactus germplasm has been maintained and disseminated to many users. Cactus specimen from the collection were subjects of two publications this year. Following a successful study of cladode production as influenced by soil-applied fertilizers, a trial is presently underway to measure cactus response to foliar fertilizer. An additional plant management trial is anticipated. Mesquite germplasm has also been maintained. Plant data was collected for young trees planted with the intention of identifying superior mesquite germplasm. The seeds originated from adult trees found to have superior lumber qualities, expecially tall and straight trunks. Survival rate of the seedlings was poor, but a few notably vigorous specimen have been identified.

Impacts
Superior gerplasm of mesquite and prickly pear have been, and will continue to be, identified and made available to the local economies. Also, agronomic practices supportive of commercial cactus production are being documented. Improved growing practices will benefit local cactus growers, whether interested in nopalitoes, cactus fruit, forage, or ornamental plants.

Publications

  • Galizzi, F.A., P. Felker, C. Gonzalez, and D. Gardiner. 2004. Correlations between soil and cladode nutrient concentrations and fruit yield and quality in cactus pears, Opuntia ficus indica, in a tradtional farm setting in Argentina. Journal of Arid Environments 59:115-132.
  • Kendrick, R., and P. Friederici. 2004. Prickly personalities. Audubon (March) 84-89.
  • Griffith, M.P. 2004. The origins of an important cactus crop, Opuntia ficus-indica: New molecular evidence. American Journal of Botany 91:1915-1921.


Progress 10/01/01 to 09/30/02

Outputs
Students were hired to maintain germplasm. Germplasm was shared with USDA facility in California. Market research was initiated to determine which characteristics of prickly pear are most desireable to the consumer. Irrigation trials for prickly pear will begin in the new project year. Mesquite seedlings were maintained and will be evaluated in the new project year.

Impacts
Superior gerplasm of mesquite and prickly pear will be identified, propagated, and made available to the local economies.

Publications

  • No publications reported this period