干旱区生态环境知识资源中心

The fruits of Opuntia ficus-indica, represent a great production potential in arid and semi-arid areas of the country due to their adaptation to the agroecological conditions in these regions, besides, the nutritional content and its high palatability allows its consumptions as a fresh and industrialized fruit. The objective of this research was to evaluate the physical and chemical changes of the fruits in three different phases of maturation. The fruits were harvested at the farm La Llanada, in El Tocuyo, Lara state. Fifty fruits per maturation phases were evaluated, according to the exocarp color: EM1 (100% green); EM2 (50% green) and EM3 (100% yellow/orange). The biomass of the total fruit (BTF); biomass of the edible part (BCP); biomass of the epicarp (BE); biomass of seeds (BS), total soluble solids (TSS) and Vitamin C were evaluated. The fruit biomass increased from the beginning of ripening until full maturation, TSS increased from 12.35 +/- 1.0 to 12.60 +/- 0.3 degrees Brix, vitamin C increased with maturation. The amount of the nutrients was influenced by maturity.