CULTIVATION OF THE PITAHAYA.

Hello friends of Steemit, in this opportunity I am going to talk about the pitahaya fruit, which is also known by other names such as: picajon, yaurero, warakko, dragon fruit.

You can find three varieties: yellow on the outside and white pulp with seeds on the inside, red on the outside and white pulp or red pulp with seeds on the inside. It is very aromatic and its flavor is very sweet and pleasant, it is also essential to highlight its excellent nutritional value.

ORIGIN

The pitahaya was discovered for the first time in the wild by the Spanish conquerors in Mexico, Colombia, Central America and the Antilles, who gave it the name of "pitaya" which means scaly fruit. The yellow variety is grown in tropical and tropical highlands (Colombia, Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela and in general the entire Central American zone) and the red one, in Mexico, Nicaragua and Vietnam, among others. The main production area for red pitahaya in Vietnam is the east coast, from Nha Trang in the north to the city of Ho Chi Minh in the south. Vietnamese red pitahaya exports are mainly oriented to the markets of Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan, although it is also exported to European markets.

Family Cactaceae
Genus Hylocereus
Species H. undatus
H. megalanthus

CHARACTERISTICS

It is a perennial plant of epiphytic or terrestrial character, of creeping and abundant branching. They can reach from 0.5 to 2m in length.

The root of the pitahaya has two types of roots, a primary one where a group of thin and superficial roots with absorption function and a secondary one where airs with support function are formed.
The stem, are very branched green, with three edges and articulated by straight sections. At the edges they present areoles in which they have spines of 2 to 4mm, the stem acts as a water regulator and participates in photosynthesis.
Flower: It presents hermaphrodite flowers, large (15-30cm long), tubular and white, yellowish or pink. Its flowers open during the night, which are oriented towards the light of the moon.
Fruit: It is a berry with oval shape, about 6-12cm in diameter and red or yellow. Most species have a fleshy epidermis with waxy-looking triangular bracts. The pulp of the fruit is translucent, containing in its interior numerous black seeds.

REQUIREMENTS,

Temperature: pitahaya prefers subhumid warm climates. However, it also develops well in dry climates. The optimum temperature for the development of the plant oscillates around 16-25ºC, not tolerating the low temperatures.
Light: The cultivation of pitaya requires high luminosity for the development of different physiological processes. Proper lighting stimulates the sprouting of the flower buds.
Prolonged exposure to direct solar radiation can be harmful to the pitaya, so it is convenient that its exposure is partial (shade by 30%). However, an excess of shade can cause a decrease in production.
Substrate: It is a plant, which due to its rusticity, adapts to dry, poor and stony soils. However, they prefer sandy-loam soils, humid, with good drainage due to their sensitivity to ponding, rich in organic matter and slightly acidic pH (5,5-6,5).
Irrigation: It is a plant that does not require abundant water. Risks of support must be given during the first two years of planting in order to stimulate an adequate vegetative growth.

PROPAGATION

The most usual multiplication of the pitahaya is by vegetative propagation by means of stakes. The propagation by seeds is not advisable, since it is a very slow process, being able to pass to be a productive plant, at least 7 years. The vegetative propagation by cuttings consists of cutting stems of about 25-30cm in length from mother plants. Selected stems must be at least two years old. Next, they should be left to heal for 3-7 days in the shade. Subsequently we proceed to sow in bags of nursery of 20x30cm. Before this work is recommended disinfection of the pods with fungicides and bactericides and the substrate used must have a good drainage capacity and be rich in organic matter. In addition, it is important to inoculate it with mycorrhizae.

CULTIVATION TECHNIQUES

The preparation of the land must be done at least one month before planting. Subsoiling should be done to keep the soil aerated and with good drainage capacity.
The planting of the pitahaya takes place at the beginning of winter, previously rooted. If the plantation is carried out during the dry season, abundant watering must be done, as before and after planting.
Tutorado: This work is carried out at the beginning of the plantation. There are two types of tutors:

Live: They must be trees of fast growth and rooting, of soft bark, resistant to plagues and diseases and that are not host of plagues and diseases that affect the pitaya. This type of tutor has the advantage of offering the pitahaya the shade they need. In any case, they should be pruned frequently in order to avoid sprouts that compete for sunlight. Some of the most frequent plants are: Black Madero (Gliricidia sepium), Helequeme (Erithrina poepigiana) and Chilamate (Ficus alobata).

Inert: These tutors are usually made of wood and must be resistant, since they have to support the weight of the pitahaya plant.

9673x378xfoto_1_0.jpgqitok3iTq8CSH.pagespeed.ic_.7YSSh3dXXC-660x330.jpg

PLAGUES AND DISEASES

Pests

Pathobattle (Leptoglossus zonatus): It is a pest that affects the pitaya during the dry months. Both the larvae and the adults cause damage by feeding on the pods, since they suck the sap causing chlorosis in them. In addition, they also affect the flower buds, whose symptoms manifest themselves with a certain reddish color.
Fly of the floral button (Dasiops saltans): It is a dipteran that usually affects the yellow pitaya (H. megalanthus). This plague causes damage by feeding on the internal structures of the floral bud, causing deformation and subsequent fall of it. Affected flower buds turn reddish.
Ant (Atta cephalotes): This pest affects pods, flower buds and fruits, producing damages that reduce the quality of the fruit.
Black weevil (Metamasius sp.): It is a pest, whose main damage is caused by the larvae when perforating galleries inside the stems. The adult causes damage to the leaf sheaths as a result of oviposition.
Stem borer (Maracayia chlorisalis): The damage is caused by the larvae that penetrate inside the pods, causing cavities inside. As a result, the plant tissue begins to rot.

Diseases

Stem rot (Erwinia carotovora): This is the most harmful disease for pitaya. The symptoms are manifested with chlorotic spots, which can cover the entire pod, leading to an aqueous rot.
fish eye (Dothiorella sp.): The symptoms of this disease are manifested in the pods by the presence of small brown circular spots with orange spots in the center.
Anthracnose (Colletotrichum sp.): The fungus causing this disease is favored by the presence of high relative humidity and temperature (20-30ºC). The symptoms are manifested in pods and fruits with the presence of black and sunken circular spots.

HARVEST AND POSTCOSECHA

The pitahaya has a staggered production that goes from mid-autumn to early spring, and can even extend until the end of spring. The harvesting of the fruits should be done when they are ripe, starting the cut from the peduncle with care not to damage the fruit or the pod. The fruits must be presented in perfect condition, without spots, scars and asymptomatic.

BENEFITS AND MEDICAL USES

Delays cellular aging
Strengthens the immune system
Stimulates the production of white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets
It can prevent arteriosclerosis
Help us regulate intestinal transit
Reduces the risk of suffering cerebral and cardiac infarction

1251913478-ensalada-de-frutas-tropicales-en-la-pitahaya-mango-cuencos-de-fruta-del-dragón-con-un-vaso-de-jugo-de-l.jpg