Pitaya: A fruit treasure in global expansion and local adaptation

1. BACKGROUND, CURRENT SITUATION IN SPANISH

La pitaya o dragon fruit It is native to Central America (Mexico), although it was also standardized in South American countries such as Brazil y Ecuador and to a lesser extent in Asian countries such as Thailand o Vietnam .

Spain and specifically the south of the peninsula due to its climatic and soil variables has carried out an adaptation plan for the correct productive performance of this crop, derived from a increase in demand based on its organoleptic and nutritional characteristics, being rich in vitamins B and C, polyphenols, anti-inflammatory and having a capacity to biostimulate collagen production.

Another key factor in its successful and successful national cultivation is its ease of management and low costs, which currently represent a significant return on investment for producers, reaching market peaks of up to €25/kg.

As for the areas of adaptation of said crop, we can centralize them in the following:

2. AGROCLIMATIC MANAGEMENT NEEDS

2.1. Climate requirements. Temperature and radiation

Based on the knowledge that this crop lends itself to cactus, its development occurs under oscillating shading of 35%, having close to this value its maximum net CO2 absorption rate, which results in optimal vegetative development. (Tomaz de Oliveira & et al, Shade improves growth, photosynthetic performance, production and postharvest quality in red pitahaya (Hylocereus costaricensis), 2021).

In terms of temperature, it adapts well to a range between 15 ºC and 25 ºC, which makes subtropical climates, such as the coast of Granada and Malaga, followed by Murcia and Almeria, suitable as we see, but where special attention must be paid to radiation levels since its stems can be sensitive to burns, and cannot be exposed to more than 2200 mmol/m2. (Hernández, 2016).

 

2.2. Water needs

This is one of the main variables of interest that is focused on areas such as Almeria y Murcia.

Previous studies recommend allocations of between 500 to 1500 mm/year depending on the physiological state and management, since the reduction of said endowment is recommended for force its flowering for an average of 30 to 35 days. (Magraner Mifsud, 2020).

 

2.3. Nutritional needs and soil

This is one of the most important variables in its management and productive success.

Textures of sandy loam soil with wide drainage capacity and notable content in organic matter, with pH in ranges of 5,5 and 6,5, rich in nitrogen and potassium. Poorly drained soils can cause waterlogged rot.

Considering that pitaya originates from jungle habitats where it has soils with a high moisture retention capacity, beneficial microorganism activity, and an excellent carbon/nitrogen ratio, specific control and analysis will be required in the management of these variables.

At CULTIFORT, we aim to propose a series of soil condition adaptability strategies to impact these variables.

Regarding the soil variable, we want to emphasize continued applications of OXIFORT.

OXIFORT, for its part, through the progressive release of oxygen nanobubbles It balances the mass-volume relationships that define many physical properties of soil, including porosity, soil bulk density, and the relative proportions of water and air occupying the pore space in a soil.

 

 

Through the application of OXIFORT  a well-aggregated soil is obtained with balance of large pores for “aeration and drainage” y small “water-retaining” pores. Good soil structure is associated with small or medium-sized aggregates with abundant pores both within and between the aggregates, as well as avoiding compaction that prevents irrigation water from flowing effectively through the root zone, which can be a stress factor for pitaya.

Given the above OXIFORT It manages to increase the speed of the pitaya's response to stressful situations., increasing the capacity of their tissues to transport metabolic derivatives, as well as the speed with which they are transported, receiving and incorporating these substances into specific metabolic pathways.

However, although the pitaya plant has the capacity to produce the necessary substances (through excessive energy consumption) to defend itself and overcome stress, if it is not facilitated to transport these substances with the necessary speed to act quickly so that its physiological processes are not radically affected, there is no possibility of competing efficiently in the ecosystem and developing its maximum productivity.

Other benefits of soil structuring based on achieving a balance in its aggregates and in association with the management of this crop, we can add and cite the following summary:

• Improves water storage on the ground and therefore its efficient use.
• Increases the amount of water available in the soil by increasing infiltration.
• It maintains proper water and gas flow mobility and prevents it from being affected, which has a direct correlation with crop growth and yield.
• Optimal balance between the adhesion and cohesion forces responsible for water retention in soils.
• Balance between field capacity, permanent wilting point and available water storage capacity (or available water in the plant) for the purposes of optimized handling.
• Optimal balance between the adhesion and cohesion forces responsible for water retention in soils, as well as their cation exchange capacity and C/N ratio.
• Balance between field capacity, permanent wilting point and available water storage capacity (or available water in the plant) for optimized management purposes.
• Optimal Available Water Storage Capacity (AWSC).
• Optimal storage water balance (ΔS).