Cactus Pear (Opuntia spp.) Germplasm Conservation in South Africa

Of the 40 recognized spineless cactus pear varieties available in South Africa, only a few are commercially exploited for fruit production. However, there is a large number of potentially important accessions of which little is known. For farmers to remain competitive on international markets, varieties with improved fruit yield and quality are required. Germplasm conservation of permanent fruit crops in most developing countries is not seen as a priority. This is mainly due to the long-term nature of permanent crops, and the costs involved in the collection, maintenance and horticultural evaluation of these germplasm accessions. The Department of Agriculture in the Limpopo Province of South Africa has been conserving 78 accessions (including the Burbank varieties) in the largest spineless cactus pear germplasm bank in Africa at Mara Experimental Farm, Makhado. Over the past 15 years, scientifically sound evaluations have been performed using a simplified descriptor suitable for less developed countries. This evaluation data has been supplied to various researchers involved in cactus pear around South Africa and abroad. In addition, plant material of described varieties has been used to establish germplasm blocks in other provinces in South Africa to monitor the performance of various cultivars in the different agro-ecological regions of South Africa. It is therefore proposed that the circular germplasm conservation model be adopted for cactus pear in South Africa. This model allows interactions between conservation, evaluation and utilisation. Details of this model and a simplified descriptor for cactus pear evaluation will be discussed in the paper presented.