Effects of GA3 and shading on return bloom of prickly pear (Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Miller)

Return bloom of cactus pear, which results from the removal of the spring flush of flowers and cladodes, was completely inhibited in cladodes which were shaded or GA3-injected before spring flush removal and until four days after it. Gibberellin applied between six and twelve days after spring flush removal resulted in abnormal elongation of the fruit axis and in a significant reduction of seed number, fruit mass and percent flesh.