Mexico is one of the largest producers of nopal （Opuntiaficus indica）. This ＂vegetable＂ is consumed on a daily basis by the Mexican population, being a source of food nutrients. Among its benefits, it is considere...Mexico is one of the largest producers of nopal （Opuntiaficus indica）. This ＂vegetable＂ is consumed on a daily basis by the Mexican population, being a source of food nutrients. Among its benefits, it is considered the content of potassium, which is essential for human life and health. In this study, it analyzes the content of potassium of the Mexican cactus （Opuntiaficus indica） grown in 5 different regions in the Mexican Basin, where 67% of the nopal is produced for human consumption. The used methodology is gamma spectrometry with Hyperpure Germanium detector （HPGe） and Multichannel Analyzer （MCA） with Maestro~ software. The results show interesting aspects on the concentration of potassium in the nopal. This concentration will primarily depend on： （a） the geological characteristics of the location where the nopal was grows; （b） that potassium concentrations may vary substantially from a region to another, with the same species of nopal as a reference and （c） that this concentration may also vary from one growing season to another.展开更多
The cochineal, Dactylopius opuntiae, has recently become the main pest that damages the prickly cactus, Opuntia ficus-indica, plants in Morocco. The control methods in which pesticides are used and applied weekly, hav...The cochineal, Dactylopius opuntiae, has recently become the main pest that damages the prickly cactus, Opuntia ficus-indica, plants in Morocco. The control methods in which pesticides are used and applied weekly, have generated phytotoxicity, poisoning and high residuality in fresh nopal, which also prevents its commercialization in international markets and the constant risk to human and animal health. Therefore, the use of less aggressive products with a low impact on the environment and is sustainable for the crop, has been introduced without an obvious strategy for gradual control of the insect. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of Beta vulgaris subsp., Eucalyptus torquata and Cedrus atlantica plant extracts (Eucalyptus leaves, small pieces of beet and Cedrus leaves powdered and macerated in 100 ml of distilled water for 72 h) for controlling of D. opuntiae under laboratory and field conditions. The results show that these extracts constitute a viable alternative for the control of wild cochineal in the nopal. A gradual reduction of cochineal populations was obtained, until after the third application with these extracts, with biological effectiveness of up to 90%. The findings of our study indicate that Beta vulgaris subsp., plant extracts could be used in the development and implementation of a biological control program against D. opuntiae under field conditions.展开更多
文摘Mexico is one of the largest producers of nopal （Opuntiaficus indica）. This ＂vegetable＂ is consumed on a daily basis by the Mexican population, being a source of food nutrients. Among its benefits, it is considered the content of potassium, which is essential for human life and health. In this study, it analyzes the content of potassium of the Mexican cactus （Opuntiaficus indica） grown in 5 different regions in the Mexican Basin, where 67% of the nopal is produced for human consumption. The used methodology is gamma spectrometry with Hyperpure Germanium detector （HPGe） and Multichannel Analyzer （MCA） with Maestro~ software. The results show interesting aspects on the concentration of potassium in the nopal. This concentration will primarily depend on： （a） the geological characteristics of the location where the nopal was grows; （b） that potassium concentrations may vary substantially from a region to another, with the same species of nopal as a reference and （c） that this concentration may also vary from one growing season to another.
文摘The cochineal, Dactylopius opuntiae, has recently become the main pest that damages the prickly cactus, Opuntia ficus-indica, plants in Morocco. The control methods in which pesticides are used and applied weekly, have generated phytotoxicity, poisoning and high residuality in fresh nopal, which also prevents its commercialization in international markets and the constant risk to human and animal health. Therefore, the use of less aggressive products with a low impact on the environment and is sustainable for the crop, has been introduced without an obvious strategy for gradual control of the insect. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of Beta vulgaris subsp., Eucalyptus torquata and Cedrus atlantica plant extracts (Eucalyptus leaves, small pieces of beet and Cedrus leaves powdered and macerated in 100 ml of distilled water for 72 h) for controlling of D. opuntiae under laboratory and field conditions. The results show that these extracts constitute a viable alternative for the control of wild cochineal in the nopal. A gradual reduction of cochineal populations was obtained, until after the third application with these extracts, with biological effectiveness of up to 90%. The findings of our study indicate that Beta vulgaris subsp., plant extracts could be used in the development and implementation of a biological control program against D. opuntiae under field conditions.
