Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Rangeland Management Department, Department of Medicinal and Industrial Plants, Faculty of Rangeland and Watershed Management, University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran

2 Rangeland Management Department, Faculty of Rangeland and Watershed Management, University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran

10.22059/jrwm.2025.385027.1788

Abstract

Prickly pear plays a very important role in arid and semi-arid ecosystems due to its high ability to withstand adverse weather conditions and soil protection. This study aims to investigate some morphological and phytochemical characteristics of different parts of the Opuntia stricta plant in the Neka and Anbaralum regions. The sampling of different organs was done randomly in 2019. Some characteristics of the plant include fruit and cladode size, vitamin C and acidity, measurement of pectin from skin and fruit flesh, measurement of chlorophyll and carotenoid, anthocyanin of skin and flesh, measurement of soluble solids (TSS) from plant organs using calipers. , spectrophotometer, and refractometer were measured. The results showed that the amount of dry weight of the seed, the amount of electrical conductivity (EC), the number of bases, the number of fruit, and the number of cladodes are significant at the level of 5 and 1%, and the amount of dry weight of the seed in Neka region (1.71 grams) is more than Anbar Alum. 1.3) is warm. Also, the amount of electrical conductivity (EC) in the Neka area (3.78 decisiemens/cm) was measured higher than in Anbaralum (6.34 decisiemens/cm). On the other hand, the number of stems, number of fruits, and number of cladodes per unit area were measured in the Neka region (1.7, 51, 111.16) more than Anbaralum (1.33, 11.03, 36.4). It can be said that climatic conditions have an effect on its growth parameters and fruit production, and the most important factor is access to water.

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