Potential for domestication and commercialization of Hoodia and Opuntia species in Botswana

The species Hoodia (Apocynaceae) and Opuntia (prickly pear) (Cactaceae) are highly efficient in water use and belong to the Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM) group of plants. These plant species are quite abundant in Botswana especially in the Kalahari Desert, prickly pear being the most dominant even though they have received very little commercial attention in the country. Elsewhere in the world, prickly pear has multiple uses such as their utilisation in the pharmaceutical industry, as a source of food and drink for animals in the rural communities, and are important in the weaving and clothingindustry. Other important uses of the species are manufacturing of paper, making of toothpicks, needles, pins and for numerous essential products. Recently the world has been introduced to Hoodiagordonii or curorri that works as a natural appetite suppressant. This paper reviews the potential uses of Opuntia and Hoodia spp, identifies the important species used by communities in Botswana andrecommends protocols and instruments for research, cultivation, and commercialization of these species in the country

The influence of exogenously applied 2,4- dichlorophenoxyacetic acid on fruit drop and quality of navel oranges (Citrus sinensis L.)

Orchard experiments were carried out in Botswana with the objective of evaluating the effect of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) on reducing premature fruit drop. Different concentration levels ofthe 2,4-D (8, 16 and 20 mg/L were applied exogenously to mature fruit trees of sweet orange (Citrus sinensis L.) in the 2004/2005 season. In the 2005/2006 season the 2,4-D treatments ranged from 20 to 40mg/L concentration. There appeared a general increase in fruit drop for the month of October in all treatments but a decrease in fruit drop was observed in the fruit trees with 16 and 20 mg/L 2,4-D concentration, that is, from November through February; with the latter showing the least number of fruits that dropped throughout the execution of the experiments. The application of 20 mg/L 2,4-D significantly reduced fruit drop by more than 50% but higher concentration levels of the plant growth regulator significantly increased fruit drop. It was also evident that, small sized fruits were more susceptible to fruit drop than larger fruits. These findings suggested that, 2,4-D can be an effective toolto control fruit drop by enhancing retention, as well as improving the quality of navel oranges under dry climatic conditions