Abstract

GARCIA-SUAREZ, F et al. Pitaya (Stenocereus stellatus) fruit growth is associated to wet season in Mexican dry tropic. Phyton (B. Aires) [online]. 2007, vol.76, pp.19-26. ISSN 1851-5657.

In this work we contribute to the knowledge of the reproductive phenology of Stenocereus stellatus (Pfeiffer,Riccobono), a columnar cactus that produces fruits of high commercial perspectives known as "pitayas". This kind of pitayas are produced for local commercialization in back orchards in some regions of the Mexican dry tropics. These fruits are produced only in the apical part of the cactus "arms". Our results show that fruit development of pitayas is highly associated to the rainy season of the year. This behavior is different from the reproductive strategy of other columnar cactus species that produce other kinds of pitaya in the same ecological region.

Keywords : Columnar cacti; Pitaya fruit; Phenology; Water stress.

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