Morphological, Physiological and Biochemical characterisation of Dragon Fruit (Hylocereus Undatus) under different growing conditions
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Date
2023
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Punjab Agricultural University
Abstract
The present investigation entitled “Morphological, physiological and biochemical characterisation of dragon fruit (Hylocereus undatus) under different growing conditions” was conducted at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana. The aim of the study was to optimise the ideal growing conditions for dragon fruit under Punjab conditions and the evaluation was carried out under open sunlight, partial shade and 40-mesh poly net house conditions. The results revealed that higher temperature coupled with low relative humidity under open field conditions negatively impacted the growth of cladodes; however, the initiation of vegetative buds and cladode development was earlier as compared to other conditions. Significantly higher cladode length (83.77 cm), cladode rib width (2.13 cm) and areolar distance (4.93 cm) were recorded in the plants grown under 40-mesh poly net house conditions. Whereas, under open field conditions, the thickness of cladode ribs (3.89 mm) and thorn length (3.37 mm) were recorded highest among all conditions. Similarly, under different growing conditions, the varied microclimatic conditions viz. temperature and humidity also exhibited significant variation in the flowering and fruiting behaviour. Though the morphology of flowers did not alter with growing conditions, but the flower bud emergence, fruit development as well as the maturity advanced during first and second fruiting flush among all four fruiting flushes. One additional flowering was also observed under open field conditions which got damaged due to high temperature and failed to set any fruit. The anatomical studies revealed that the opening and closing of stomata occurred at 20:00 and 12:00 hours, respectively. Though, the stomata density did not alter with growing conditions, but the stomata size was significantly less under open sunlight conditions as compared to the other growing conditions. Chlorophyll a and b content was significantly more in the cladode of plants under 40-mesh net house. The average fruit length (13.12 cm), fruit diameter (8.15 cm) and fruit weight (253.44 g) were highest under partial shade conditions. The fruit quality in terms of biochemical parameters viz., TSS (14.7 °Brix), total sugars (11.61 g per 100g), total phenols (25.92 mg GAE per 100g), flavonoids (17.50 mg CE per 100g), carotenoids (18.01 µg per g), antioxidants (142.78 µmol per 100g) and vitamin C (31.80 mg per 100g) were significantly higher under open sunlight conditions. It was concluded from the present investigation that dragon fruit performed better under partial shade conditions and proved to be more promising as compared to other growing conditions.
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Basheer, Aadil (2023). Morphological, Physiological and Biochemical characterisation of Dragon Fruit (Hylocereus Undatus) under different growing conditions (Unpublished M.Sc. thesis). Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India.