In vitro micropropagation of Nopalea cochenillifera (Cactaceae)

Here we present a protocol for the mass propagation of Nopalea cochenillifera, a cactus species widely used in semi-arid regions as a forage crop. Arcoles were isolated from young cladodes of fieldgrown plants and cultivated in Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 6-benzyladenine (BA) at 7.5 µM and indolacetic acid (IAA) at 1.0 µM. Axillary bud proliferation was achieved by transferring in vitro grown shoots to hormone-free MS medium. The Plantlets successfully survived acclimatization ex vitro by using the protocol presented here. it is possible to reach a propagation rate of up 20 individuals for each cycle of multiplication.