This study had the objective of characterizing 40 nopal cultivars for use as a vegetable in the nopal germplasm collection of the CRUCEN-UACh based on morphological attributes of one-year-old mature cladodes and to numerically classify those genotypes. Fourteen qualitative and quantitative variables were considered for this purpose: 10 cladodes that were undamaged by biotic or abiotic factors were selected. The analysis method was a multivariate analysis of the main components and conglomerates which allowed the grouping of the 40 nopal cultivars into five classes. The Tapón Macho, Copena F-1 and Oreja of Elefante cultivars each made up a group. The analysis of the main components showed that ‘Tapón Macho’ differed from the other cultivars because of the great numbers of thorns in its cladodes, while ‘Copena F-1’ differed for its very long cladodes, and ‘Oreja of Elefante’ differed for its curly edge and very waxy surface. The Tamazunchale, Nopalea Jalpa and Llera cultivars made up a group of compact vegetable material characterized mainly by its very waxy texture and a large L/A ratio. On the other hand, the group of 34 cultivars can be divided into at least two subclasses or subgroups. One of these subclasses can be made up of the Chihuahua, T-L, P-8 Rojo and 40. P-8 Rojo cultivars and 40 tend to have cladodes with a large number of dark colored areolas, while the ‘Chihuahua’ tends to produce oval cladodes, wide with a wavy edge and a waxy texture; ‘T-L’ has relatively longer cladodes than the other cultivars, except for the clear exceptions of ‘Copena F-1’. The rest of the cultivars make up a more compact group than the one already mentioned which is characterized by a complex combination of morphological attributes.

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