Abstract In order to evaluate, among clones of the Oreja de Elefante Mexicana nopal cultivar (Opuntia stricta Haw), the one that indicated agronomic and zootechnical characteristics to be considered with forage potential, an experiment was carried out at the Agronomic Institute of Pernambuco (IPA), located at coordinates 08° 25’ 15’’ south latitude and 37° 03’ 41’’ west longitude, at 663 meters above sea level, with a precipitation of 692 mm. The experimental period was from January 2014 to July 2015 and the clones used were Lisa 1, Lisa 2, Seg CV, mãe plant, Seg 1, Seg 2, Seg 3, Seg 4, Seg 5 and Seg 6. The variables evaluated were production (t DM ha-1), number of cladodes in plant (NC), plant height (PH), plant width (PWI), amount of thorn (AT), size of thorn (ST) and amount of gloquide (AG); within each plant it was measured in cladodes, perimeter (P), length (LC), width (WID) and thickness (TH), number of lines (NLI) and number of buds (NBU). The experimental design was completely random and the test of comparison of means with Tukey (p≤ 0.05). There were differences between clones (p≤ 0.05); Lisa 2, showed the lowest AT, ST, AG, and the lowest production (6.45 t DM ha-1), the Seg CV clone, showed higher production (67.41 t DM ha-1), NC, PH, and PWI, without However, it also presented higher AT, ST and AG, so despite its yield it does not show the best agronomic and zootechnical characteristics.

Resumen Evaluar clones del cultivar de nopal Oreja de Elefante Mexicana (Opuntia stricta Haw), con el objetivo de encontrar el que mostrara características agronómicas y zootécnicas para ser considerado con potencial forrajero, se llevó a cabo un experimento en el Instituto Agronómico de Pernambuco (IPA), localizado en las coordenadas 08° 25’ 15’’ latitud sur y 37° 03’ 41’’ longitud oeste, a 663 msnm, con una precipitación de 692 mm. El periodo experimental comprendió de enero 2014 a julio de 2015 y los clones utilizados fueron Lisa 1, Lisa 2, Seg CV, Planta mãe, Seg 1, Seg 2, Seg 3, Seg 4, Seg 5 y Seg 6. Las variables evaluadas fueron producción (t MS ha-1), número de cladodios en planta (NC), altura de la planta (AP), ancho de la planta (ANP), cantidad de espina (CE), tamaño de espina (TE) y cantidad de gloquidio (CG); dentro de cada planta se midió en cladodios, perímetro (P), longitud (LC), ancho (ANC) y grosor (GC), número de líneas (LCP) y número de yemas (YCP). El diseño experimental fue completamente al azar y la prueba de comparación de medias con Tukey (p( 0.05). Se presentaron diferencias entre clones (p≤ 0.05) lisa 2, mostró la menor CE, TE, CG, y la menor producción (6.45 t MS ha-1), el clon Seg CV, presentó mayor producción (67.41 t MS ha-1), NC, AP, y ANP; sin embargo, también presentó mayor CE, TE y CG por lo que pese a su rendimiento no muestra las mejores características agronómicas y zootécnicas.