Opuntia spp. biodiversity conservation and utilization on the Cape Verde Islands

摘要: Cactus pear is the common name of Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill., arid-resistant plant that grown worldwide for its multifunctional proprieties. The paper gives an overview local genetic resources spp. and describes results recent introduction some O. varieties, hybrids other cactaceas on Fogo Island during a cooperation international project carried out by Italian Universities Torino Sassari aimed to build sustainable supply chain growers, in order fight their extreme poverty malnutrition. ten introduced genotypes were selected from repository located Sardinia (Italy) held University Sassari. They fruits and/or cladodes productivity, potential use as livestock feed, no invasive behaviour. propagation test started May 2007 data emerging growth new recorded until March 2008: was cloning via cutting. Once planted identified, usual agrotechniques cultivation applied periodically collected. To evaluate compare different genotypes, productivity index used. Cladodes Nopalea genotype significantly smaller size than all length (20.50 cm), width (11.25 thickness (0.98 cm). In present study, active preservation biodiversity has become tool enhance agroforestry.