Invasive plant control – Jointed Cactus
Channel: RUTV Journalism Rhodes University
Date: 2019-07-29

The work of Rhodes University’s Centre for Biological Control (CBC) is focused on using insects to control invasive plants. This video provides background and context into the biological control of the joined cactus, Opuntia aurantiaca. 
Jointed cactus, originally from South America, reduces the carrying capacity of grazing lands in South Africa. It has direct negative consequences to livestock due to the plants’ spines and it threatens indigenous plant and animal diversity. Farmers and landowners have attempted to control jointed cactus by using herbicides and mechanical removal but both methods have not reduced the weed significantly. This makes biological control the only viable option. Biological control is the deliberate release of host-specific natural enemies to control a pest or weed species. Potential biological control agents such as insects or pathogens, are tested before they are released and are not a risk to crops and native plant species. The aim of biological control is to reduce the density of jointed cactus to a level where it is no longer a threat to agriculture and native biodiversity.

Production by Zimkhita Kweza & Tumelo Thamaga
School of Journalism and Media Studies, Rhodes University