Hydroponics Culture of Edible Opuntia ‘Maya’: Effect of Constant Red and Blue Lights on Daughter Cladodes Growth and Spine Development

Abstract

This study investigates the effects of constant red and blue LED light on the growth and spine occurrence of daughter cladodes in edible Opuntia. Opuntia cladodes were grown by hydroponic culture using the deep flow technique under red, blue, and simultaneous irradiation with red and blue light. Daughter cladodes developed from mother cladodes in all treatments, thus indicating that edible Opuntia can be grown under constant light and hydroponics culture. The speed of elongation growth of first cladodes was lower under blue light than with other treatments. The number of daughter cladodes was also the lowest in cladodes under blue light and was the highest in cladodes under red light. Thus, compared with red light, blue light appears to suppress daughter cladode development. The number of spines, an undesirable characteristic of edible cacti, was the highest on cladodes under simultaneous irradiation with red and blue light. Daughter cladodes under blue light had more spines than those under red light. Our results show that light wavelength strongly affects daughter cladode growth and spine number. Thus, controlling the light environment is important for improving edible cactus growth and quality.