Yield and fruit quality traits of dragon fruit cultivars grown in Puerto Rico

Authors: Goenaga, Ricardo; Marrero Soto, Angel; Perez, Delvis

Submitted to: HortTechnology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/18/2020
Publication Date: 12/1/2020
Citation: Goenaga, R.J., Marrero Soto, A.R., Perez, D.O. 2020. Yield and fruit quality traits of dragon fruit cultivars grown in Puerto Rico. HortTechnology. 30:6. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTTECH04699-20.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTTECH04699-20

Interpretive Summary: The globalization of the economy, increased ethnic diversity and a greater demand for healthy and more diverse food products have opened a window of opportunity for the commercial production and marketing of tropical fruit, including dragon fruit or pitahaya. Little is known about the performance of dragon fruit cultivars grown in the tropics and subtropics. This study was conducted to evaluate yield performance and fruit quality traits of 12 dragon fruit cultivars grown in Puerto Rico on an Oxisol soil. There were significant differences in number and weight of fruit per hectare among years. Cultivars exhibited an increase in fruit number and yield from 2010 to 2013 and then levelled off or declined. There were significant differences among cultivars for number of fruit and yield per hectare. Cultivars N97-17 and N97-15 produced significantly more fruit averaging 74,908 fruit/ha. Significantly higher fruit yield was obtained by cultivars N97-17, N97-20, N97-22, and NOI-13 averaging 17,002 kg/ha. Cultivar Cosmic Charlie had the lowest fruit yield averaging only 25.1 kg/ha. Individual fruit weight was significantly higher in cultivars N97-20 and NOI-13 with fruit weight averaging 346.3 g. Cultivars ‘NOI-16’ and ‘N97-18’ and cultivar ‘Cosmic Charlie’ had significantly higher fruit soluble solids than others averaging 17.4%. Some of the cultivars used in this study have shown horticultural potential and may serve as new planting material for growers and provides for the first time information from long-term replicated trials on yield and fruit quality traits of various dragon fruit that should be useful to extension agents and growers.

Technical Abstract: Dragon fruit or pitahaya (Hylocereus spp.) is a member of the Cactaceae family and native to the tropical forest regions of Mexico, Central, and South America. Its fruit is little known but becoming increasingly popular as consumers seek healthy and more diverse food products. The crop adapts to different ecological conditions ranging from very dry regions to wet ones receiving over 3,500 mm/year of rainfall. U.S. commercial production of dragon fruit occurs mainly in Florida, Southern California, and Hawaii. As growers learn more about this crop and how productive it can be, the acreage planted may increase significantly. Twelve pitahaya cultivars grown on an Oxisol soil were evaluated for five years under intensive management at Isabela, Puerto Rico. There were significant differences in number and weight of fruit per hectare among years. Cultivars exhibited an increase in fruit number and yield from 2010 to 2013 and then levelled off or declined. There were significant differences among cultivars for number of fruit and yield per hectare. Cultivars N97-17 and N97-15 produced significantly more fruit averaging 74,908 fruit/ha. Significantly higher fruit yield was obtained by cultivars N97-17, N97-20, N97-22, and NOI-13 averaging 17,002 kg.ha-1. Cultivar Cosmic Charlie had the lowest fruit yield averaging only 25.1 kg.ha-1. Individual fruit weight was significantly higher in cultivars N97-20 and NOI-13 with fruit weight averaging 346.3 g. Cultivars ‘NOI-16’ and ‘N97-18’ and cultivar ‘Cosmic Charlie’ had significantly higher fruit soluble solids than others averaging 17.4%. Some of the cultivars used in this study have shown horticultural potential and may serve as new planting material for growers.