REPRODUCTIVE PHENOLOGY OF STENOCEREUS-GUMMOSUS (ENGELM) GIBSON AND HORAK - IMPLICATIONS FOR ITS CULTIVATION

Stenocereus gummosus (''pitaya agria'', Cactaceae) is a wild native species of the Baja California Peninsula, Mexico. The fruit of these plants is harvested by ranchers for public consumption. There has been no attempt to cultivate this species or to enhance fruit production by selecting highly productive lines with desirable characteristics. Nevertheless, it is relatively easy to propagate asexually. Seed propagation is not practical in spite of its regular flower, fruit, and viable seed generation. Here, the ''pitaya agria'' was studied over 4 years (1988-1991) to generate basic information that may be useful for its induction to cultivation. A sample of plants was monitored during phenological events of budding, flowering, fruiting, and abortion. Among the results, we found that a third of the original buds developed into fruit, and the first 40 cm of the branches yielded more buds where the conversion into fruit was higher than in the rest of the branch. A statistical analysis revealed slight differences in the phenological events, despite dissimilar rainfall over the four years. In view of its successful asexual propagation, this species can be considered commercially promising.