Cactus (<i>Opuntia ficus-indica</i>) utilization for rehabilitating rangelands in arid regions of Tunisia

Gouhis, Fethi; Louhaichi, Mounir; Nefzaoui, A.

doi:10.17660/actahortic.2019.1247.13

Cited by 4 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…Consequently, semi-arid and arid tropical regions might expand considerably [ 21 ], thereby increasing water stress for the native vegetation. As a cactus, Opuntia ficus-indica has the innate ability to survive in dry environments [ 22 , 23 ] and thrive in large areas that become warmer and drier [ 24 ]. Opuntia ficus-indica , native to Mexico, is a very drought-resistant cactus that is already invasive in arid and semi-arid environments in many parts of the world [ 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Increased Plasticity in Invasive Populations of a Globally Invasive Cactus

Tesfay,

Blaschke,

Ashley

et al. 2023

Plants

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Biological invasions pose global threats to biodiversity and ecosystem functions. Invasive species often display a high degree of phenotypic plasticity, enabling them to adapt to new environments. This study examines plasticity to water stress in native and invasive Opuntia ficus-indica populations, a prevalent invader in arid and semi-arid ecosystems. Through controlled greenhouse experiments, we evaluated three native and nine invasive populations. While all plants survived the dry treatment, natives exhibited lower plasticity to high water availability with only a 36% aboveground biomass increase compared to the invasives with a greater increase of 94%. In terms of belowground biomass, there was no significant response to increased water availability for native populations, but plants from the invasive populations showed a 75% increase from the dry to the wet treatment. Enhanced phenotypic plasticity observed in invasive populations of O. ficus-indica is likely a significant driver of their success and invasiveness across different regions, particularly with a clear environmental preference towards less arid conditions. Climate change is expected to amplify the invasion success due to the expansion of arid areas and desertification. Opuntia ficus-indica adapts to diverse environments, survives dry spells, and grows rapidly in times of high-water supply, making it a candidate for increased invasion potential with climate change.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Increased Plasticity in Invasive Populations of a Globally Invasive Cactus

Tesfay,

Blaschke,

Ashley

et al. 2023

Plants

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“…For non-productive purposes, it is used as a defensive hedge (due to the presence of spines) and windbreak. It is widely used in soil erosion protection and degraded area restoration programs, providing food resources during drought [21]. Mexico is the world's largest producer of prickly pears, while Italy (specifically Sicily) is the biggest European producer [22].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prickly Pear Cladodes as an Alternative Source of Water in Small- and Medium-Scale Yellow Mealworm Rearing

et al. 2023

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New solutions are compulsorily needed to reconcile the enormous and ever-growing request for protein for human nutrition and, at the same time, reduce conventional meat production. This epochal challenge can find a valuable aid to a winning solution in insect rearing. The use of insects as feed and food, far from being a definitive solution to global food shortages, can offer new protein sources and perfectly fit circular economy precepts, yet more so when insects feed on by-products from the agri-food industry. In this scenario, Tenebrio molitor (TM) is a concrete alternative. Therefore, making its rearing more sustainable is a prime objective. In this paper, we evaluated the possibility of replacing usual plant sources of wet supplementation used in TM rearing with sustainable alternatives, including the cladodes of prickly pear (Opuntias ficus indica, OFI), to reduce the frequency of administration, thus minimizing related labor costs. The alternatives were tested for water content, dehydration, and shelf life to select the best-performing ones. On the selected matrices, we evaluated the preference of the larvae and their palatability because a matrix may be convenient and sustainable but not appreciated by consumers. The results showed that OFI cladodes have high moisture and a long shelf life and are appreciated by the larvae that prefer them to other matrices. Thus, OFI can replace the conventional wet source in TM rearing, at least in areas where this cactus grows wild and is not difficult to obtain.

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