Opuntia spp.: Superfood of the Future and its Biotechnological Potential
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https://doi.org/10.70593/978-93-49307-30-8
Keywords:
Opuntia spp., Prickly Pear Cactus, Opuntia ficus-indica, Cactaceae Family, Semi-arid Agriculture, Cladode Micropropagation, Biotechnological Applications, Sustainable Agriculture, MedicinalSynopsis
Opuntia spp. is a cactus popularly known as nopal in Mexico. Due to its characteristics, it is typically found in arid and semi-arid regions. Currently, 300 species of the genus Opuntia are known, approximately 100 of which are present in Mexico, and about 40% of these originate from the Chihuahua Desert.
The Opuntia group comprises remarkable plants typically diverse in their environmental growth habits. Creeping and shrub species are forms bristled with branches; a tree is formed when older cladodes change into cylindrical shapes. Most of them have spines, which is quite a cactaceous feature; however, some spineless examples have also been recorded. Mostly, they produce true leaves, but only the young shoots of these plants have such short-lived leaves. A prickly pear is a shrub-like plant, woody in trunk and branches, composed of cladodes. These cladodes are referred to as nopalitos when they are young and succulent, and as pencas when mature.
It is known that in the past, Opuntia species were propagated by seeds or vegetatively using rooting offsets or grafting. However, these methods are not useful for propagation on a large scale. For mass production of endangered and economically valuable cacti, in vitro culture techniques such as somatic embryogenesis, and plant regeneration via indirect or direct organogenesis are applied.
Still a major staple food in traditional Mexican cuisine, nopal (Opuntia spp.) is generally consumed as a vegetable in salads, while its prickly pear is eaten as a fresh fruit. Opuntia ficus-indica is the most widely cultivated species of Opuntia. Its fruits typically have a pulpy, sweet flesh with colors ranging from white-grayish and yellow to orange, red, or purple. Depending on the variety, the fruit contains varying amounts of pulp and usually has a thin skin.
Nopal offers an extensive portfolio of products and by-products that promise great benefit to many, especially those who are living in regions experiencing water scarcity.
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Published
11 April 2025
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Copyright (c) 2025 Sandra Pérez Álvarez, Eduardo Fidel Héctor Ardisana; Diana Marcela Torres Madrid, Blanca Mildred Martínez Núñez, Luisa Patricia Uranga Valencia, Esteban Sánchez Chávez
Details about the available publication format: E-Book
E-Book
ISBN-13 (15)
978-93-49307-30-8
Details about the available publication format: Book
Book
ISBN-13 (15)
978-93-49307-24-7
How to Cite
Pérez-Álvarez, S. . ., & Ardisana, E. F. H. . (Eds.). (2025). Opuntia spp.: Superfood of the Future and its Biotechnological Potential. Deep Science Publishing. https://doi.org/10.70593/978-93-49307-30-8
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