ArticlePloS one2020
Relationship between weather conditions and the physicochemical characteristics of cladodes and mucilage from two cactus pear species.
Article in PloS one, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.
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Who cites it
5 citing papers in PubMed, 29 citations in OpenAlex.
- Cactus-Based Biopolymers: A Review on Sustainable Innovations in Edible Packaging, UV Protection, Antioxidant Films, and Industrial Applications.Food science & nutrition · 2025Review
- Looking into New Sources of Bioactives: Seasonal Variation in Bioactive Compounds and Dietary Fiber of Agave Bagasse from Mezcal Production.Foods (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- Challenges Inherent in Controlling Prickly Pear Species; a Global Review of the Properties ofPlants (Basel, Switzerland) · 2022Review
- Influence of age on molecular characteristics and rheological behavior of nopal mucilage.Food science & nutrition · 2021Article
- Comparative Analysis of the Chemical Composition and Physicochemical Properties of the Mucilage Extracted from Fresh and DehydratedFoods (Basel, Switzerland) · 2021Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Climate change, limited water resources and expected population increases would require crops which contribute toward more resilient, more productive, more sustainable and climate-smart food systems. The cactus pear is a drought-resistant and sustainable food source to humans and livestock alike. Cactus mucilage has multiple applications in the food and packaging industry. It is eco-friendly, economical, functional and has multiple health benefits. However, the researchers observed umpteen variations in extracted mucilage yield and viscosity every time the cladodes were harvested, making the standardisation of formulations troublesome. We aimed to examine the effect of weather conditions on the physicochemical characteristics of cactus pear cladodes and mucilage extracted over two seasons to understand these observed variations in mucilage characteristics. Forty cladodes, ten from each of Opuntia ficus-indica Algerian, Morado and Gymno-Carpo and Opuntia robusta Robusta were harvested every month from February to August in Bloemfontein, South Africa. Daily weather data were obtained, weight and moisture contents determined on cladodes and yield, viscosity, pH, conductivity and malic acid content determined on extracted mucilage. Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated between the weather conditions, cladode properties, and mucilage properties. Contrary to common belief, neither increasing cladode weight as they grow, nor rainfall were the leading causes of mucilage inconsistencies. However, the correlations showed a relationship between environmental temperatures, cladode pH and conductivity, and mucilage viscosity and yields. In hot summer weather, the pH was lower, which led to an abundance of positive ions in cladodes. The H+ ions neutralise the negative charges along the outstretched mucilage molecule, causing it to coil up, reducing the viscosity of the mucilage. Thus, environmental temperatures rather than rainfall or cladode maturity influenced the physicochemical characteristics of mucilage. The findings should make an essential contribution in predicting the physicochemical characteristics of mucilage for specific food-related functions by observing the weather conditions.
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