Prickly Pear Cactus - Research Program Overview 

@Adam Greene Thank you this is really interesting!!!!

We sure do. Opuntia ellisiana is our main cold tolerant variety. Most cold tolerant Opuntia have the trade-off of being smaller and low lying, but there are some interesting exceptions. Do you know what the species is that you are referring to?

Most people refer to it as "Opuntia humifusa", however I can confirm that it is definitely not Opuntia humifusa. I suspect it may be some allopolyploid between Opuntia tunoidea and Opuntia ellisania or some other species.

@@conradsmith4696 Interesting. We are finding that Opuntia spp. occur on a wide continuum of ploidy. If you'd be willing to send your accession to us we would be happy to add to our collection. We are willing to share our resources as well if you are interested.

@@nicholasniechayev4037 I dont know who this Nick Niechayev guy is but he seems real smart.

@@nicholasniechayev4037 I might be able to send you some. Feel free to reach out to me. I can give you my college email if you'd prefer. I can also be reached at conrad.smith@capitalcacti.com or through the site at capitalcacti.com I collected samples from 5 or so locations, two in D.C. one in Arlington, one in the northern peninsula of Virginia and one from northern south Carolina, however the internet is littered with pictures placing this "mysterious" species from Northern-central Maryland (zone 6a/6b), Appalachian Virginia and New Jersey to South Carolina (8a/8b). I currently have developed small "stands" from the samples collected at each location, in the hopes that I will have genetically distinct lines. Currently I suspect that the species is *most likely* Opuntia tunoidea, as it seems to fit the appearance and distribution. (but opuntia play so fast and lose with hybridization its always tricky) I have yet so far to observe a single cactoblastus moth infestation. I know I am certainly not the first to observe this species' wide distribution, but it is often misidentified. In any event, it may hold a good deal of promise for agriculture/industry due to its tenacious, adaptive, moisture and cold tolerant nature and good fruit/pad quality.

We use Luther Burbank's accessions. In fact many of the lines shown in this video originally came from his collection and are referenced in our work. Still much work to do in understanding abiotic responses and disease resistance. We are further improving the wheel not reinventing it.

@@nicholasniechayev4037 one abiotic factor you should be looking into is zinc. Can you elaborate on that?

@@estebancorral5151 Zinc is certainly limited in highly weathered desert soils that have low cation exchange capacities. Not much research has been done on zinc response though because you only need trace amounts to avoid chlorosis. Nutrient responses in general are not well studied in Cacti, and this is something I was was working on intensely as a grad student.

@@nicholasniechayev4037 zinc deficiency increase geometrically if not logarithmically in a monoculture of Opuntia Ficus Indica. The answer is clear a polyculture which includes not only the Opuntia but also Mesquite, Huizache, and pollenators I.e. bats, bees & ants.

I want to know too! I read the Reyna is the best one...

Harvest it in the early morning, and also process in early morning. Acidity will be much higher than at dusk.

Opuntia is the Latin scientific terminology for the plant genus required in publication. Nopal is common name, even if it has more precedence.

Water is still number one limitation of production even for cactus. Especially in American deserts. You can get 5 fold yield increases with additional irrigation.