Reproductive phenology ofStenocereus gummosus (Engelm.) Gibson & Horak. Implications for its cultivation

Abstract

Stenocereus gummosus ("pitaya agria", Cactaceae) is a wild native species of the Baja CaliforniaPeninsula, Mexico. The fruit of these plants is harvested by ranchers for public consumption. There has been no attempt to cultivate this species or to enhance fruit production by selecting highly productive lines with desirable characteristics. Nevertheless, it is relatively easy to propagate asexually. Seed propagation is not practical in spite of its regular flower, fruit, and viable seed generation.Here, the "pitaya agria" was studied over 4 years (1988)(1989)(1990)(1991) to generate basic information that may be useful for its induction to cultivation. A sample of plants was monitored during phenological events of budding, flowering, fruiting, and abortion. Among the results, we found that a third of the original buds developed into fruit, and the first 40 cm of the branches yielded more buds where the conversion into fruit was higher than in the rest of the branch. A statistical analysis revealed slight differences in the phenological events, despite dissimilar rainfall over the four years. In view of its successful asexual propagation, this species can be considered commercially promising.

New Interpretations about Clonal Architecture for the Sour Pitaya (<i>Stenocereus gummosus</i>, Cactaceae), Arising from Microsatellite Markers of <i>de novo</i> Isolation and Characterization

“…Identical MLG of Lophocereus schottii individuals, distanced in field by 200 or more meters, have been defined as long-distance transportation events, where detached stems are dispersed downstream by floodwaters [7]. This clone dispersion mechanism is likely to occur along the distribution range of S. gummosus (shared with L. schotti), species mostly found on alluvial, arroyo margins and rocky hillsides [8] [12]. The latter results in an intermingled distribution of the clones and a subsequent increase of the genetic neighborhood [7], where ramets disperse not only to the space surrounding the source specimen but, in this case, also for at least 30 meters away.…”

“…ex. K. Brandegee) A.C.Gibson & K.E.Horak, is not an exception, since the energy expenditure for flower and fruit development, along with its highly viable seed production, is quite remarkable [8] [9], in contrast to the low seed setting registered for S. eruca [10], a species derived from S. gummosus [6].…”