Cacti: Biology and Uses

291 Pages·2002·9.07 MB·English

by  Park S. Nobel

CACTI
CACTI
BIOLOGY AND USES
Edited by Park S. Nobel
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PRESS
Berkeley Los Angeles London
University of California Press
Berkeley and Los Angeles, California
University of California Press, Ltd.
London, England
© 2002 by the Regents of the University of California
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Cacti: biology and uses / Park S. Nobel, editor.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references (p. ).
ISBN0-520-23157-0 (cloth : alk. paper)
1. Cactus. 2. Cactus—Utilization. I. Nobel, Park S.
qk495.c11 c185 2002
583'.56—dc21 2001005014
Manufactured in the United States of America
10 09 08 07 06 05 04 03 02 01
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of
ANSI/NISOZ39.48–1992 (R1997) (Permanence ofPaper).
CONTENTS
List of Contributors . vii
Preface . ix
1. Evolution and Systematics
Robert S. Wallace and Arthur C. Gibson . 1
2. Shoot Anatomy and Morphology
Teresa Terrazas Salgado and James D. Mauseth . 23
3. Root Structure and Function
Joseph G. Dubrovsky and Gretchen B. North . 41
4. Environmental Biology
Park S. Nobel and Edward G. Bobich . 57
5. Reproductive Biology
Eulogio Pimienta-Barrios and Rafael F. del Castillo . 75
6. Population and Community Ecology
Alfonso Valiente-Banuet and Héctor Godínez-Alvarez . 91
7. Consumption of Platyopuntias by Wild Vertebrates
Eric Mellink and Mónica E. Riojas-López . 109
8. Biodiversity and Conservation
Thomas H. Boyle and Edward F. Anderson . 125
9. Mesoamerican Domestication and Diffusion
Alejandro Casas and Giuseppe Barbera . 143
10. Cactus Pear Fruit Production
Paolo Inglese, Filadelfio Basile, and Mario Schirra . 163
11. Fruits of Vine and Columnar Cacti
Avinoam Nerd, Noemi Tel-Zur, and Yosef Mizrahi . 185
12. Forage, Fodder, and Animal Nutrition
Ali Nefzaoui and Hichem Ben Salem . 199
13. Nopalitos, Mucilage, Fiber, and Cochineal
Carmen Sáenz-Hernández, Joel Corrales-Garcia,
and Gildardo Aquino-Pérez . 211
14. Insect Pests and Diseases
Helmuth G. Zimmermann and Giovanni Granata . 235
15. Breeding and Biotechnology
Brad Chapman, Candelario Mondragon Jacobo,
Ronald A. Bunch, and Andrew H. Paterson . 255
Index . 273
CONTRIBUTORS
Edward F. Anderson (Deceased), Desert Botanical Joel Corrales-Garca, Departamento de Ingeniería
Garden, Phoenix, Arizona Agroindustrial, Universidad Autónoma de Chapingo,
Mexico
Gildardo Aquino-Prez, Insituto de Recursos
Genéticos y Productividad, Montecillo, Mexico Rafael F. del Castillo, Centro Interdisciplinario
de Investigacíon para el Desarrollo Integral Regional
Giuseppe Barbera, Istituto di Coltivazioni Arboree,
Unidad Oaxaca, Mexico
Università degli Studi di Palermo, Italy
Joseph G. Dubrovsky, Departamento de Biología
Filadelfio Basile, Dipartimento Scienze Economico-
Molecular de Plantas, Instituto de Biotecnología,
Agrarie ed Estimativ, Universita degli Studi di Catania,
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca
Italy
Arthur C. Gibson, Department of Organismic
Hichem Ben Salem, Institut National de la Biology, Ecology and Evolution, University of
Recherche Agronomique de Tunisie, Laboratoire California, Los Angeles
deNutrition Animale, Ariana, Tunisia
Hctor Godnez-Alvarez, Departamento de
Edward G. Bobich, Department of Organismic Ecología Funcional y Aplicada, Instituto de Ecología,
Biology, Ecology and Evolution, University of Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico
California, Los Angeles City
Thomas H. Boyle, Department of Plant and Soil Giovanni Granata, Dipartimento di Scienze e
Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst Technologie Fitosanitartie, Università degli Studi di
Catania, Italy
Ronald A. Bunch, D’Arrigo Bros. Co., Salinas,
California Paolo Inglese, Istituto di Coltivazioni Arboree,
Palermo, Italy
Alejandro Casas, Departamento de Ecología de los
Recursos Naturales, Instituto de Ecología, Universidad James D. Mauseth, Department of Integrative
Nacional Autónoma de México, Morelia Biology, University of Texas at Austin
Brad Chapman, Plant Genome Mapping Laboratory, Eric Mellink, Centro de Investigación Cientifica
University of Georgia, Athens yde Educación Superior de Ensenada, Mexico
vii
Yosef Mizrahi, Department of Life Sciences and Mnica E. Riojas-Lpez, Departamento de
Institutes for Applied Research, Ben-Gurion University Ecología, Centro Universitario de Ciencias Biológicas
of the Negev, Israel yAgropecuarias, Universidad de Guadalajara, Mexico
Candelario Mondragon Jacobo, Programa de Carmen Senz-Hernndez, Departamento de
Nopal y Frutales, Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Agroindustria y Enología, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias
Forestales y Agropecuarias, Queretaro, Mexico y Forestales, Universidad de Chile, Santiago
Ali Nefzaoui, Institut National de la Recherche Mario Schirra, Instituto per la Fisologia della
Agronomique de Tunisie, Laboratoire de Nutrition Maturazione e della Conservazione del Frutto delle
Animale, Ariana, Tunisia Specie Arboree Mediterranee, Oristano, Italy
Avinoam Nerd, Institutes for Applied Research, Noemi Tel-Zur, Department of Life Sciences,
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel
Park S. Nobel, Department of Organismic Biology, Teresa Terrazas Salgado, Programa de Botánica,
Ecology and Evolution, University of California, Los Colegio de Postgraduados, Montecillo, Mexico
Angeles
Alfonso Valiente-Banuet, Departamento de
Gretchen B. North, Department of Biology, Ecología Funcional y Aplicada, Instituto de Ecología,
Occidental College, Los Angeles, California Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico
City
Andrew H. Paterson, Plant Genome Mapping
Laboratory, University of Georgia, Athens Robert S. Wallace, Department of Botany, Iowa
State University, Ames
Eulogio Pimienta-Barrios, Departamento de
Ecología, Centro Universitario de Ciencias Biológicas Helmuth G. Zimmermann, Plant Protection
yAmbientales, Universidad de Guadalajara, Mexico Research Institute, Agricultural Research Council,
Pretoria, South Africa
viii Contributors
PREFACE
The Cactaceae, a family of approximately 1,600 species, is and their uses. Twelve authors are from Mexico, eleven from
native to the New World but is cultivated worldwide. In re- the United States, five from Italy, three from Israel, two
sponse to extreme habitats, cacti have evolved special phys- from Tunisia, and one each from Chile and South Africa.
iological traits as well as distinctive appearances. The stem Most of the authors share my interests in basic research on
morphology, spine properties, and often spectacular flowers the Cactaceae. Nearly half of the authors, especially those
have caused hobbyists to collect and cultivate large numbers dealing with agronomic aspects, are involved with the
of cacti. Both cactus form and function relate to nocturnal CactusNet sponsored by the Food and Agricultural Orga-
stomatal opening and Crassulacean acid metabolism, which nization of the United Nations. Approximately 1,300 refer-
lead to efficient use of limited soil water. Thus, cacti can ences are cited in the chapters, which not only indicate the
thrive in arid and semiarid environments, where they are widespread interest in cacti but also should facilitate further
often important resources for both wildlife and humans. investigations. The intended audience ranges from ecolo-
Indeed, cacti have been consumed by humans for more gists and environmentalists to agriculturalists and con-
than 9,000 years. Currently, Opuntia ficus-indica is culti- sumers to cactus hobbyists and enthusiasts.
vated in over 20 countries for its fruit, and an even greater The point of departure is the evolution of the family in
land area is devoted to its cultivation for forage and fodder. the broad sense, paying particular attention to new mo-
The fruits of other cactus species, known as pitahayas and lecular and genetic approaches (Chapter 1). People recog-
pitayas, and various other cactus products are appearing in nize cacti by their shoot morphology, which reflects vari-
an increasing number of markets worldwide. ous cellular characteristics (Chapter 2). The uptake of
Due to the high water-use efficiency and other adapta- water and nutrients from the soil by roots that sustains the
tions of cacti, biological and agronomic interest in them has shoots has unique features as well (Chapter 3). Survival de-
soared. From 1998 to 2000, more than 600 researchers pub- pends on adaptation to abiotic environmental conditions,
lished over 1,100 articles on cacti, including papers in pro- which cacti have done in special ways (Chapter 4). In ad-
ceedings of national and international meetings. Yet a cur- dition to enduring harsh conditions, cacti must reproduce,
rent, synthetic, widely ranging reference is not available. for which many strategies have evolved (Chapter 5). Biotic
This book, which consists of a series of authoritative, up-to- factors are also crucial for the success of cacti in natural en-
date, review chapters written by established experts as well vironments (Chapter 6). Because of their ecological suc-
as new contributors, emphasizes both the biology of cacti cess, cacti are important food resources for wild vertebrates
ix
(Chapter 7). The many unique characteristics of the De la Barrera assisted with the many Spanish citations.
Cactaceae have attracted collectors and raised concerns Marian McKenna Olivas competently did line editing, and
about issues of biodiversity and conservation (Chapter 8) Alicia Materi meticulously typed the developmental and
as well as led to their ancient usage and subsequent wide line editing changes. Financial support for these steps was
diffusion by humans (Chapter 9). The most widespread provided by Sol Leshin, a man of integrity and generosity
use occurs for fruits of platyopuntias, known as cactus with a profound interest in plants and their uses dating
pears (Chapter 10). Also, fruits of vine-like and columnar back to his M.S. in soil science in 1938. Numerous sugges-
cacti are increasingly popular in many countries (Chapter tions on improving the arrangement and scientific content
11). An even greater land area worldwide than is used for were the result of a graduate course taught from the book
cactus fruits is devoted to raising platyopuntias for forage and attended by Edward Bobich, Erick De laBarrera, C.J.
and fodder (Chapter 12). Besides such uses, cacti are also Fotheringham, Catherine Kleier, and Alexandra Reich.
important as a vegetable, as a dietary supplement, and as The dedication and important suggestions of these people
the host for the red-dye-producing cochineal (Chapter 13). helped meld the contributions of a diverse group of au-
Such uses, which are constrained by pests and diseases thors into the final product, for which I am extremely
(Chapter 14), are currently expanding via breeding and grateful.
biotechnology (Chapter 15).
Park S. Nobel
Special thanks are due to those who helped in the re-
February 10, 2001
alization of this book. Edward Bobich helped prepare the
line drawings and halftones for reproduction, and Erick
x Preface