The physicochemical properties of cladodes Opuntia ficus-indica (OFI) vary widely during maturation. However, few studies have been performed to evaluate changes in chemical characteristics on the pad depending on the maturity stages. Chemical proximate analysis like the content of total sugars, protein, dry matter, pH, conductivity and ash, depending on the variation of weight of the pad and the growing region was done to determine the changes of characteristics of nopal. Significant changes in physicochemical properties were observed among harvesting sites and during the growing stages. The principal component analysis was then performed to evaluate the relationship between harvesting sites, growth stages, and physicochemical properties. Results highlighted that Sidi El Aidi can be categorized as a poor ecotype among the studied ecotypes, besides, overall harvesting sites pH and proteins had a significant negative correlation with ash, total sugars, reducing sugars, conductivity proteins decrease with increasing age of nopals while total sugars, reducing sugars, and ash content showed the opposite trend. The high total sugar content, minerals of nopal pad (weight higher than 200 g) and proteins (weight lower than 200 g) could be an interesting source of these important components for human diets and also could be used in food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical industry.

中文翻译：

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仙人掌枝条的物理化学变化作为生长阶段和收获面积的函数

在成熟过程中，仙人掌（OFI）枝条的理化特性变化很大。然而，很少有研究根据成熟阶段来评估垫上化学特性的变化。化学近似分析如总糖、蛋白质、干物质、pH、电导率和灰分的含量，取决于垫的重量和生长区域的变化，以确定胭脂树的特性变化。在收获地点和生长阶段观察到物理化学性质的显着变化。然后进行主成分分析以评估收获地点、生长阶段和理化性质之间的关系。结果强调，在所研究的生态型中，Sidi El Aidi 可归类为不良生态型，此外，总体采伐点pH值和蛋白质与灰分、总糖、还原糖、电导蛋白呈显着负相关，随着胭脂树龄的增加而降低，而总糖、还原糖和灰分含量则呈相反趋势。胭脂树垫的高总糖含量、矿物质（重量高于 200 克）和蛋白质（重量低于 200 克）可能是这些人类饮食重要成分的有趣来源，也可用于食品、化妆品和制药行业。