Relationship between weather conditions and the physicochemical characteristics of cladodes and mucilage from two cactus pear species.

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.

Mucilage powder from cactus pears as functional ingredient: influence of cultivar and harvest month on the physicochemical and technological properties.

Cactus pear mucilage is a novel, inexpensive hydrocolloid that is used to add nutrients, body and texture to functional food products. However, varied physicochemical and technological properties of powders when cultivar and harvest month of cladodes differ could lead to differentiation in the application of mucilage powders. To that end, three - (Algerian, Morado and Gymno-Carpo) cultivars and one (Robusta) cultivar were harvested over a 6 month period and evaluated in this study.