Pitayas y Pitahayas (Stenocereus spp. e Hylocereus spp.), recursos agrícolas en el Valle de Tehuacán Puebla

Abstract

Abstract. The cacti constitute key species for the stability of biotic communities in arid and semi-arid zones, and for being a important economic potential resources. The pitayas and pitahayas, Stenocereus and Hylocereus fruits, are used by rural communities of the Tehuacán Valley, Puebla, for meet their subsistence needs and marketed locally or regionally. The management of these species passed from gathering to agriculture production without enough information and technical support, putting at risk the biodiversity of the area. For this duality, we present an analysis of the production of these “exotic fruits” of high international demand and their ecophysiology.