Associated diseases to Prickly Pear (Opuntia ficus-indica L. Mill.) in the South of Morocco

The prickly pear cactus plant is an important ecological component in dry and semi-arid areas, not only preventing desertification but also preserving biodiversity. In Morocco, the fruits are consumed as food, while the cladodes are used to feed cattle. The prickly pear cactus is regarded as a rich potential raw material for Moroccan industry. However, cladode and fruit rots have been detected in prickly pear cactus orchards in Morocco's primary producing regions. The infections were most prevalent in orchards where wild cochineal (D. opuntiae) is detected. The symptoms start with a color shift from brown to dark patches on the damaged cladode and fruit tissues, followed by superficial necrotic lesions with a bad odor. Alternaria sp, Fusarium sp, and Mycosphaerella sp were isolated from diseased tissues and identified as harmful to prickly pear cladodes. Pathogenicity testing indicated that these microorganisms cause cladode rot in prickly pear cactus in Morocco. These data illustrate the economic impact of cactus diseases, which can result in significant yield losses. Effective sustainability solutions are consequently necessary to combat these diseases.