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The prickly pear (Opuntia ficus-indica [Cactaceae]) in South Africa: Utilization of the naturalized weed, and of the cultivated plants

Der Feigenkaktus (Opuntia ficus-indica [cactaceae]) im Südafrika: Gebrauch des Eingebürgerten Unkrautes und der Kultivierten Pflanzen

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Abstract

In spite of successful biological control efforts, vast areas of South Africa remain infested with the spiny prickly pear weed, Opuntia ficus-indica. These remnant populations, which vary from sparse to dense and which are more or less stable, are confined mainly to the eastern Cape. They provide a popular fruit and a limited source of income for certain sectors of the population in these areas. In terms of existing legislation, there are, however, restrictions on the large-scale utilization of these fruit. A novel method for mass-rearing the cochineal insect, Dactylopius coccus, for the commercial production of a red dye (carminic acid) has been developed.

The cultivated spineless prickly pear has recently been enjoying renewed attention from researchers and growers alike. Whereas it has traditionally been cultivated mainly as a droughtresistant fodder crop, and is still popular as such, it is now increasingly recognised as a fruit, in its own right, with considerable promise as a commercial crop for local and export markets.

There is also a need to encourage the use of very young cladodes (nopalitos) as a highly nutritious vegetable for human consumption in South Africa.

Zusammenfassung

Trotz erfolgreiche biologische Bekämpfungseinsätze bleiben weite Gebiete Südafrikas von den dornigen Feigenkakteen (Opuntia ficus-indica) als Unkraut befallen. Diese Restbestände wechseln im Umfang von dünn bis dicht besiedelt und sind einigermassen stabiel. Sie befinden sich hauptsächlich in der Ostkap. Die Pflanze erzeugt eine beliebte Frucht und dadurch ein beschränktes Einkommen für bestimmte Teile der Einwohner jener Gebiete. Bestehende Gesetze jedoch beschränken die Nutzung der Wildfrüchte im Grossmass. Eine neuartige Zuchtmethode die Cochenille-Laus,Dactylopius coccus in grossen Mengen für die wirtschaftliche Herstellung des roten Farbstoffes (Karminsäure) herzustellen, wurde entwickelt. Der kutivierte dornlose Feigenkaktus lenkte vor kurzem erneute Interesse auf sich von Seiten der Forscher sowie deur Züchter. Die Pflanze wurde traditionell vorwiegend als Viehfutter gezüchtet wegen ihrer Trockenresistenz und ist als solches immer noch beliebt. Nun wird sie jedoch zunehmend als Fruchtpflanze anerkant die sich besonders fur den lokalen und Exportmarkt eignet. Die Nutzung der ganz jungen Kladoden (Nopalitos) als hochstnahrhaftes Gemüse für menschlichen Gebrauch, soil auch im Südafrika gefördert werden.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Fort Hare, Alice, South Africa

    Marc O. Brutsch (Faculty of Agriculture)

  2. Plant Protection Research Institute, Private Bag X134, Pretoria, South Africa

    Helmuth G. Zimmermann

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  1. Marc O. Brutsch
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  2. Helmuth G. Zimmermann
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Brutsch, M.O., Zimmermann, H.G. The prickly pear (Opuntia ficus-indica [Cactaceae]) in South Africa: Utilization of the naturalized weed, and of the cultivated plants. Econ Bot 47, 154–162 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02862018

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