1. KAUTIR (Kerala Agricultural University Theses Information and Retrieval)
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Item Production technology of dragon fruit (Hylocereus spp.)(Department of Fruit Science, College of Agriculture, Vellanikkara, 2025-10-08) Keerthana Sethunath; Jyothi BhaskarDragon fruit (Hylocereus spp./ Selenicereus spp.) is a perennial climbing cactus belonging to the family Cactaceae. Though the botanical names Hylocereus and Selenicereus were being used as synonyms, the name has been changed to Selenicereus spp. recently. It is commonly known as Pitaya, Pitahaya and Strawberry pear. The fruit has anti-cancerous, anti-diabetic, anti-Parkinson and anti-aging properties. The high price and increasing demand for dragon fruit makes it a highly remunerative crop with immense potential for commercialization in Kerala. Dragon fruit has emerged as a promising fruit crop with increasing consumer demand due to its nutritional value, unique appearance, and health benefits. Despite its growing popularity, organized scientific efforts to optimize its cultivation practices under Indian tropical conditions, particularly in Kerala, remains limited. The current study on "Production technology of dragon fruit (Hylocereus spp.)" was done at Department of Fruit Science, College of Agriculture, Vellanikkara, Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur during 2022-2024. The main objective of the study was to develop a package of practices recommendations for dragon fruit cultivation in Kerala, through a series of five independent but interrelated experiments. These experiments focused on the influence of planting time, planting method, fertilizer application, potting media, and foliar nutrition on the growth, yield, and quality of dragon fruit. The planting materials were 3 ft long rooted cuttings of Cambodian Red dragon fruit (purple-fleshed) obtained from the nursery and were planted in containers of 100 L capacity (except for ground planting in Experiment 2). Experiment 5 was conducted in two-year-old plants planted in the same manner. The experiments 1, 2, 3 and 5 were conducted in the field of College Orchard, Department of Fruit Science, College of Agriculture, Vellanikkara. Whereas, experiment 4 was conducted in Fruits Crops Research Station, Vellanikkara. The experimental setup employed a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). Potting media consisted of coirpith compost, rocksand, vermicompost, Trichoderma enriched goat manure and bonemeal in the ratio 1:1:1:1:1 (on weight basis) except for experiment 4. At the time of planting, Arbuscular Mycorhizal Fungi (AMF) was applied at a rate of 0.5 kg. For container planting, before filling the media in the containers, cement poles (6 feet height and 4 inch thickness) were erected and centrally positioned in the containers using iron rods. Baby metal was laid at the bottom of the container for proper drainage. Each container was planted with two cuttings and were fastened carefully to the the poles. A spacing of 2 m x 2 m was followed. Irrigation was done as and when required, usually twice a week (when there were no rains), based on moisture levels in the media. Preventive plant protection measures were adopted to reduce the severe incidence of pest and diseases. Manual weeding and application of pre-emergence herbicide like Indaziflam 500 gL-1(Alion 500 SC) were followed to control weeds in the orchard. The first experiment aimed at evaluating the performance of dragon fruit based on month of planting. Planting was done every month starting from January 2023 till December 2023 (T1 to T12). The results indicated that fruiting can be obtained in the same year (within 6 months of planting), if planting was done from January to March. January planting significantly influenced not only the vegetative characters like stem segment length (284.40 cm), stem segment width (6.25 cm), distance between areoles (4.50 cm) and number of branches (37.50) but also the flower production (30.00) and fruit yield (9.40 kg) in the second year. This was followed by February and March plantings. The second experiment dealt with standardizing the most effective planting method for maximizing growth and fruit yield. Four treatments were compared, namely, ground planting with vertical support and a rubber tyre on top (T1), ground planting with vertical support and trailed on a ladder (T2), container planting with vertical support and rubber tyre on top (T3), and container planting with vertical support and trailed on a ladder (T4). Container planting significantly enhanced vegetative growth, root development, and yield compared to ground planting. Treatments with ladder training showed higher number of branches compared to the other treatments initially and became on par with time. Treatments T3 and T4 recorded significantly higher flower production (24.25 and 25.00 respectively), fruit yield (6.94 kg and 6.11 kg respectively), stem segment length (265.00 cm and 276.38 cm respectively), stem segment width (4.31 cm and 4.62 cm respectively), number of branches (36.25 and 36.00 respectively) and root biomass (164.81 g and 172.23 g respectively). In the third experiment, the effect of application of graded levels of fertilizers on the growth and yield of dragon fruit was investigated. The treatments included three levels of NPK fertilizers, T1 (N 337.5 g: P₂O₅ 262.5 g: K₂O 225 g per pole), T2 (N 225 g: P₂O₅ 175 g: K₂O 150 g per pole), T3 (N 112.5 g: P₂O₅ 87.5 g: K₂O 75 g per pole) and a control (T4) with no fertilizer application. Fertilizers were applied in four splits, i.e., at pre-flowering, fruit set, harvest, and post-harvest. Treatment T1 recorded highest fruit weight (491.75 g), pulp weight (365.75 g), shelf life (7 days), and flushes (7). Treatment T3 showed superior flower production (45.5) and anthocyanin content (329.93 mg/100g). Treatment T2 had higher TSS (15.63 °Brix), chlorophyll (0.14 mg/g), and carotenoids (0.06 mg/100g), though it recorded lower yield compared to T1 and T3. The control (T4) recorded the highest TSS (15.83 °Brix) but with lowest yield (7.29 kg). Thus, T1 is ideal for higher yield, while T2 and T3 enhanced quality traits. The fourth experiment focused on the standardization of suitable potting media composition to support optimal growth of dragon fruit, particularly in systems involving container cultivation. The base medium (P) consisted of coirpith compost, rocksand, vermicompost, Trichoderma-enriched goat manure, and bone meal mixture in equal proportion (T1). This was compared with P supplemented with sawdust (T2), rice husk (T3), and burnt rice husk (T4), respectively. Early flowering was observed across all treatments except T1 (289.50 days), with T2, T3, and T4 showing comparable earliness (254.50, 260.00 and 254.50 days respectively). In the second season, T2 and T3 recorded more flowers (38.28 and 32.25) and higher yields (14.38 and 12.36 kg), followed by T1 and T4. Treatment T3 had the highest number of branches (72.00) and best fruit traits, namely, fruit weight (355.40 g), pulp weight (253.79 g), rind weight (102.00 g), and TSS (13.50 °Brix). Treatment T4 had the highest seed count (54.17) but with lowest yield (10.72 kg). Total sugars were higher in T4 (5.43%) and T2 (5.23%), while chlorophyll peaked in T3 (0.43 mg/g). Anthocyanin content was highest in T2 (360.66 mg/100g). Overall, T3 (P + rice husk) was most effective in supporting yield and fruit quality. The final experiment assessed the influence of foliar nutrition on the growth and yield of dragon fruit. Four treatments imposed were foliar application of KNO₃ (5g/L) (T1), NPK 13:27:27 (5g/L) (T2), KAU Sampoorna multimix (5g/L) (T3), and control (T4). Earliest flowering was observed in T1, although branch emergence appeared more climate-dependent than treatment-driven. Across two seasons, T3 consistently had the highest flower production (22.00 and 33.75), followed by T1 (20.00 and 29.00) and T2 (18.00 and 31.75). Yield was highest in T1 (6.29 kg and 12.95 kg), followed by T2 and T3. Traits such as fruit weight (490.68 g), pulp weight (378.38 g), rind weight (112.30 g), and TSS (16.49 °Brix) were highest in T1. Treatment T3 had the highest anthocyanin content (241.37 mg/100g), while T2 recorded maximum chlorophyll (0.46 mg/g). Treatment T1 (KNO₃) improved yield and quality and T3 (KAU Sampoorna) enhanced flower production and anthocyanin. The study demonstrated that cuttings planted at the beginning of the year can yield in the same year i.e., within 6 months. Container planting was found to be better compared to ground planting irrespective of the training system. Application of fertilizers at the rate of N 337.5 g: P2O5 262.5 g: K2O 225 g (per pole) in four splits and foliar nutrition with KNO3 (5 g/L) were beneficial in increasing fruit size, yield and quality of fruits. Whereas, NPK 13:27:27 (5g/L) and KAU Sampoorna (5g/L) was found to be beneficial in enhancing flower production and a greater number of medium-sized fruits under tropical humid conditions of Kerala. Rice husk incorporated in the planting media showed better yield and quality parameters. These findings provide region- specific recommendations for improving dragon fruit productivity in Kerala and other similar agro-climatic zones.Item Evaluation of dragon fruit (hylocereus spp.) genotypes grown in Kerala(Department of Fruit Science, College of Agriculture, Vellanikkara, 2021) Keerthana Sethunath; Jyothi BhaskarDragon fruit (Hylocereus spp.) commonly known as the pitaya, is a perennial climbing vine belonging to the Cactaceae family. The present work carried out in the Department of Fruit Science during the period 2019-2021 to study the morphology, flowering, yield and quality attributes of dragon fruit grown in four districts of Kerala (Thiruvananthapuram, Pathanamthitta, Ernakulam and Thrissur) is of vital importance with respect to the popularity dragon fruit has gained within a very short span of time in Kerala. A total of 100 plants, 10 each from 10 different locations were evaluated based on the UPOV descriptor guidelines to characterise the different genotypes that are being cultivated in Kerala. The plants were denoted as P1 to P10, prefixed with the first two letters of the location to which they belong. The commercial cultivation of dragon fruit in Kerala was found to be dominated by the dark pink/purple fleshed dragon fruit (Hylocereus costaricensis). Within this species, more than one genotype was identified. The stem, flower, yield and quality attributes were found to vary widely. The stem characters included stem segment length (33-210 cm), stem segment width ((1.80-6.60cm), distance between areoles (2.00-5.50 cm), arch height (1.00-4.20 cm), stem waxiness (strong and weak), stem sturdiness (high and low), margin of rib (convex and flat), number of spines per areole (3-5), spine colour (medium brown and dark brown), height of the pole (6.5-8 ft with 1-2 ft buried underground), number of branches (numerous) and number of stem segments per branch (1-6). Variations were also observed for the flower characters such as bud shape (ovate and elliptic), shape of bud apex (acute and rounded), secondary colour pattern of sepal (slightly red edged and red edged), intensity of red colour on bracts (weak, medium and strong), length of style (23.50-31.00 cm) and number of stigma lobes (26-36). The yield characters studied were fruit weight (84-896g), length of fruit (4.60-10.40 cm), width of fruit (4.40-10.40 cm), length/width ratio of fruit (1.00-1.21), number of bracts (18- 50), length of apical bract (3.00-6.30cm), width of base of the bract(1.40-5.70 cm), position of bracts towards the peel (adpressed, slightly held out and strongly held out), fruit weight without peel (52-592 g), fruit shape (oval or spherical), colour of peel 2 (medium pink and dark pink), flesh colour (dark pink and purple) and yield per post (5- 20 kg per year based on the age of the plants). The values ranged from 11 to 18 °B with respect to the TSS of the fruits whereas the titrable acidity was found to be 0.12 per cent in all the fruits. The plants KoP1 to KoP10 from Kozhenchery received the maximum score for appearance, taste, flavour, after taste and overall acceptance. Plants came into bearing within 1.5 to 2 years of planting when stem cuttings were used as the planting material. The duration from flower bud initiation to anthesis was 12-15 days in general and anthesis took place during the night time after 10 p.m. If the pollination was successful, fruit could be visible after 5 to 7 days of anthesis and the harvest was possible in 23-25 days from fruit set i.e., one month after anthesis. When the phenology of the plants was studied, flowering started in the month of March in two locations (Athikkayam and Vaniyampara) whereas in all the other locations, it started in the month of April. The flowering season extended till September to October. The fruiting season started exactly one month after the anthesis and ceased one month after the flowering has stopped, i.e., April to November. As dragon fruit was a perennial crop, different orchards were grouped into three phases based on the age of the plants, namely the establishment phase (0-2 years), yield increasing phase (2-4 years) and yield stabilizing phase (4 years and above). Considering the phases, total cost of cultivation was calculated and it was found to be ₹8,29,393 per year per hectare. The maximum cost during establishment phase was incurred for the planting material and construction of posts. During the maintenance phase, maximum expenditure was for the manure and fertilizer application. Average yield per year per hectare was observed to be around 21 tonnes and the average price received by farmers was ₹174 per kg. Net return from one hectare was around ₹27,32,768. The B:C ratio was 4.29 when the farmers received ₹174 per kg fruit. The B:C ratio obtained with the least price (₹120 per kg) was 3.04. Being a highly remunerative crop, area under dragon fruit cultivation was found to be expanding year after year, as more under-utilized lands are being brought under this crop. Major constraint identified in the cultivation of dragon fruit was the bud and flower drop due to excessive and continuous rainfall during the flowering season. Weed 3 growth was also found to be a major problem. The source of planting material in all the locations under study were found to be either from Malaysia or Cambodia. Since dragon fruit was a crop introduced recently to India, the incidence of pests and diseases were less compared to other fruit crops. But the menace caused by ants was common and rarely, mealy bugs and beetles were found. Fruits were found to be damaged by birds. Disease symptoms similar to canker were observed on the fruits and stem in one of the locations. Physiological disorder like yellowing during extreme summer was common in most of the orchards and these symptoms vanished immediately after a shower or with irrigation. The variability within the species was analysed using statistical techniques like factor analysis and cluster analysis. Maximum variability (59.38%) in the stem and flower characters was explained by two dimensions. The characters that contributed to the variability were intensity of red colour of bract, stem waxiness, stem sturdiness, margin of rib, spine colour, bud shape, bud apex shape, number of stigma lobes, length of style and distance between areoles. Similarly, maximum variability (62.74%) in the quality attributes were contributed by the first two dimensions out of four significant dimensions. The characters responsible for creating the variability were fruit weight, position of bract towards peel, fruit width, fruit weight without peel, fruit length, flesh colour, fruit shape, width of base of bract, length of apical bract, outer TSS, TSS-acid ratio and core TSS. Cluster analysis of the qualitative traits formed six different clusters. When the mixed data with both qualitative and quantitative characters were analysed through clustering, there were three clusters based on the stem and flower characters and four clusters based on the yield and quality attributes, which indicated variability within the species. Other species of Hylocereus namely H. undatus and H. megalanthus, and other types known as Bruni and Frankis Red imported from countries like Thailand and Vietnam are also under cultivation by farmers and are getting popular in different parts of Kerala.