Cytokinins Increase the Number of Daughter Cladodes of Nopalea cochenillifera

抄録

　This study aimed to investigate the effects of 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP), a synthetic cytokinin, on N. cochenillifera daughter cladode development and growth. We injected different BAP concentrations (0, 1, 5, 25, and 50 ppm) into a mother N. cochenillifera cladode using a syringe. The number of daughter cladodes significantly increased under high BAP concentrations (25 and 50 ppm), although the total yield of daughter cladodes did not vary among treatments. Additionally, the fresh weight (FW) of each daughter cladode under 25 and 50 ppm BAP was lower than at other concentrations. Next, we tested different BAP application methods (injection, spraying, and lanolin paste). The number of daughter cladodes significantly increased under injection and spraying treatments compared with the control, and the yield of daughter cladodes was the highest under spraying. Finally, we combined thinning and BAP treatment to increase the size of a single stem. Under BAP treatment (injection) and thinning, the growth of daughter cladodes was significantly higher than the control, resulting in approximately 38% increase in FW. These results suggest that BAP is effective in promoting the growth and higher yield of N. cochenillifera.