Interaction among species, time-of-day, and soil water potential on biochemical and physiological characteristics of cladodes of Opuntia.

The physiology and biochemistry of young Opuntia spp. cladodes relate with their Crassulacean acid metabolism, which extends over the day-night cycle in four phases, is species-dependent and is affected by water availability. This study aimed to assess the interaction among species, time-of-day, and the soil water potential (Ψ) on biochemical and physiological characteristics of cladodes of Opuntia species.