Seleção de progênies de palmas forrageiras resistentes a cochonilha do carmim

Abstract

Cactaceae are considered as the main alternative food for ruminant during forage shortage in Brazilian semiarid, once considering this edaphoclimatic conditions, it is important to point out the role of water presents in the raw material. The selection of new cactus pear cultivars is relevant, especially in the agreste and sertão regions, due to the economic scenario of most producers, as well as carmine cochineal has damaged the crop. New progenies resistant to the insect has been identified, however, studies will still be carried out to select the best "resistant" progenies. The objective was to evaluate the morphological, productive and chemical composition of cactus pear (Nopalea cochenillifera Salm-Dyck and Opuntia undulata Griffiths). Two independent experiments were carried out at Instituto Agronômico de Pernambuco (IPA) in the municipalities of Arcoverde (I) and Caruaru (II). A completely randomized design was applied, with six and ten replications regarding experiments I and II, respectively. The experimental treatments consisted of 23 IPA Sertânia cactus pear progenies (experiment I) and 12 African Elephant Ear progenies (experiment II), which came from a pre-selection of genotype crossing carried out at these stations. Experiment I was established in January 2019 spacing 1.2 x 0.4, and experiment II was established in March 2018, spacing 1.5 x 0.5 m. For both experiments, the useful area was represented by a plant. Productive, morphological, and chemical characteristics were analyzed for two years. Data were selected for analysis of variance and means were compared by Scott-Knott test at 5% significance. We concluded that there is little variation in chemical composition and carbohydrate fractionating among IPA Sertânia (Nopalea cochenillifera Salm-Dyck) progenies. African Elephant Ear cactus pear progenies had greater in vitro dry matter digestibility.