Beles is a plant easy to propagate. However, for commercial plantations following a few rules ensures high quality and vigorous plants. Suitable cuttings also reduce the vegetative phase of the plant and extend its productive life.
Selection of donor plants. Collecting cuttings from homestead orchards is the best option, because the plants grown under these conditions have been "pre-selected" by farmers and are in general more vigorous than those collected from the wild. Before collecting cuttings, make sure the donor plant belongs to the desired variety. It is advisable to label the donor plants well in advance. If possible, select them during the previous harvest season to monitor that they bear the desired fruit type. Select only healthy branches with large clean cladodes.
Cutting size. Beles can be propagated from seeds or from cuttings. Seed propagation is not used commercially, but is used in the breeding of new varieties.
The choice of using single cladodes or branches will depend on the availability and distance to the new orchard. Using branches reduces the juvenile period at least a year. Transport costs are frequently the most important issue to consider.
When using individual cladodes it is preferable to use complete pads. However, if the planting material is scarce, it is possible to use cladode fractions. Dividing the cladode into pieces smaller than half will reduce the initial size and number of cladodes of the new plant and it will take longer to reach full size, and also take longer to reach the reproductive stage.
When to collect planting material? Collect planting material when the plants are dormant. The best season is from December to February, when the plants reduce their activity. Some variations are possible due to the effect of microclimates. The rule of thumb is that collection must occur before bud emergence. Cut cladodes carefully avoiding unnecessary chopping. Cut straight at the joints.
Conditioning of planting material. Cladodes should be allowed to heal and dehydrate for better conservation and establishment. A minimum of two weeks is necessary. To protect them from rotting they can be treated with Bordeaux mixture. This is a protective fungicide prepared with lime and copper sulphate. To prepare a batch of 100 litres:
dissolve 1 kg of copper sulphate in 5 litres of warm water;
dissolve 1 kg of lime in 5 litres of warm water;
mix the two solutions; and
add water to bring the total volume to 100 litres.
This quantity is sufficient to treat up to 2000 pads. The volume of the solution can be adjusted according to the amount of material to be treated.
Commercial fungicides can also be used. Mancozeb 80 WP is a fungicide available in Eritrea, and can be used to treat planting material. Dissolve 50-g in a bucket containing 10 litres of water, dip the entire cladode in the solution and allow to dry. This fungicide can also be applied with a normal sprayer, using the same dosage.
Selection of planting material. During collection and storage some of the pads may be injured and deteriorate. Before planting select only those pads that are complete, without suspicious discolorations or soft spots (associated with bacterial soft rot). Do not leave the cladodes in the field unless they are going to be planted soon.
Storing cladodes for late planting. Cuttings can be stored for up to 6 months provided they are properly managed. That includes; chemical protection and storage in a shaded, dry location. Cladodes should be flipped over every three weeks to avoid rooting.
The conservation of the cladodes is enhanced if they are covered with a thin layer of straw to reduce sunburn.
