Comparative analysis for quality traits of pitaya varieties in protected cultivation

Abstract

The study explored the potential of eight new pitaya cultivars for protected cultivation in subtropical climate conditions, comparing yield and fruit characteristics. Two white-fleshed and six red-fleshed cultivars were planted in the study. The physico-chemical properties (pH, total acidity, glucose and fructose amounts, fruit weight, fruit diameter, fruit length, plant yield, color, total phenolic content, total monomeric anthocyanins, antioxidant activity, glucose and fructose amounts) of the frutis were analyzed using principal component analysis. The ‘Costa Rica’ (7.54 kg/plant) white-fleshed pitaya cultivar, and ‘Malaysia Red’ (8.44 kg/plant) red-fleshed cultivar had the highest fruit yields. These cultivars, alongside ‘Thai Red’, had the highest levels of soluble solids and sugar, making them sweeter than other cultivars. ‘American Beauty’ had the most intense red color in both the flesh and peel of the fruit, while ‘Condor’ had the highest total phenolic content (TPC; 621.06mg gallic acid/L). ‘American Beauty’ (15.17mg Trolox equivalent-TE/L), ‘Dark Star’ (14.75mg TE/L), and ‘Condor’ (14.84mg TE/L) had the highest antioxidant activity (AA). ‘Thai Red’ (8.19mg cyanidin-3-glucoside—Cy3G/100mL) and ‘Malaysia Red’ (5.57mg Cy3G/100mL) were the richest cultivars in terms of total monomeric anthocyanins (TMA). In contrast, white-fleshed pitaya cultivars had the least TPC, AA, and TMA values. Overall, the study revealed new pitaya cultivars that are adaptive for protected cultivation with varying fruit characteristics.