Cactus as Crop Plant ? Physiological Features, Uses and Cultivation ?

Today, the stems of edible Opuntia are consumed as vegetables, cattle food, and processed in addition to being used for raw materials cosmetics medical supplies various countries, including Mediterranean, South America, Middle East, North Africa Asia, showing their wide adaptability climate zones ranging from arid, semiarid temperate zones. In a time when global warming population growth requires an urgent response, there is intense demands crops like Opuntia, which stress-resistant extreme environments (e.g., high temperature, dryness) can be grown large volumes. Thus, Edible have promising potential not only become general crop globally but also serve model plant deciphering mechanisms special properties. However, existence traits well-known at level compared with other crops. This review explains physiological features, uses cultivation technologies soil hydroponic culture recent researches.