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Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry 2018; 7(2): 1022-1026
E-ISSN: 2278-4136
P-ISSN: 2349-8234
JPP 2018; 7(2): 1022-1026
Received: 09-01-2018
Accepted: 10-02-2018
Tamanna Perween
Department of Fruits and
Orchard Management
Bidhan Chandra Krishi
Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur,
Nadia, West Bengal, India
KK Mandal
Department of Fruits and
Orchard Management
Bidhan Chandra Krishi
Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur,
Nadia, West Bengal, India
MA Hasan
Department of Fruits and
Orchard Management
Bidhan Chandra Krishi
Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur,
Nadia, West Bengal, India
Correspondence
Tamanna Perween
Department of Fruits and
Orchard Management
Bidhan Chandra Krishi
Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur,
Nadia, West Bengal, India
Dragon fruit: An exotic super future fruit of India
Tamanna Perween, KK Mandal and MA Hasan
Abstract
Dragon fruit a recently introduced super fruit in Indian market. It is getting tremendous popularity among
growers because of its attractive fruit colour and mouthwatering pulp with edible black seed imbedded
inside the pulp, nutraceutical value, excellent export potential and highly remunerative in nature as
produces yield from 14- 16 months after planting of stem cutting and yield up to 20 years with long crop
cycle from May – December in different flushes in each and every year. It is also a part of urban
horticulture because of its beautiful nocturnal showy white flowers which can be used in moon garden.
Hylocereus costaricensis, red fleshed pitaya and H. undatus, a white fleshed pitaya is two major species
growing under Indian condition especially in West Bengal. This review deals with the knowledge
regarding cultivation of dragon fruit based on literature and some of research findings in Indian condition
so all become familiar with dragon fruit.
Keywords: dragon fruit, ecology, harvesting, nutraceutical value, nutrient requirement, reproductive
biology
1. Introduction
Dragon fruit a recently introduced super fruit in India, is considered to be a promising,
remunerative fruit crop. Fruit has very attractive colour and mellow mouth melting pulp with
black colour edible seed embeded in the pulp along with tremendous nutritive property which
attract the growers from different part of India to cultivate this fruit crop which is originated in
Mexico and Central and South America (Britton and Rose, 1963; Morton, 1987 and Mizrahi et
al., 1997) [6, 20, 19]. It is a long day plant with beautiful night blooming flower that is nicknamed
as “Noble Woman” or “Queen of the Night”. The fruit is also known as Strawberry Pear,
Dragon fruit, Pithaya, Night blooming Cereus, Belle of the night, Conderella plant and Jesus in
the Cradle. Fruit is named as pitaya because of the bracts or scales on the fruit skin and hence
the name of pitaya meaning ‘‘the scaly fruit’’. It has ornamental value due to the beauty of
their large flowers (25 cm) that bloom at night; they are creamy white in color. It is considered
as a fruit crop for future (Gunasena and pushpakumara, 2006 and Gunasena et al., 2006) [23].
The fruit comes in three types, all with leathery, slightly leafy skin: Hylocereus undatus—
white flesh with pink skin, Hylocereus polyrhizus– red flesh with pink skin, Hylocereus
costaricencis – with violet red flesh and pink skin and Hylocereus (Selenicerus) megalanthus –
white flesh with yellow skin.
The biggest advantage of this crop is that once planted, it will grow for about 20 years, and 1
hectare could accommodate about 800 dragon fruit plant. It is being grown commercially in
Israel, Vietnam, Taiwan, Nicaragua, Australia and the United states (Merten, 2003) [17]. It
produces fruit in the second year after planting and attain in full production within five years.
This article concentrates mainly on how to cultivate dragon fruit based on the literature
available and research work done in Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya with the genus
Hylocereus and species costaricensis. Hylocereus comprises 16 species, which are endemic to
Latin America and they are not very well known among the growers and researchers and have
only recently been the subject of studies. Very few research works have been done on this fruit
crop in India. Specific topics associated with the difficulties met by countries that have
introduced the new species. So, the research thrust must be given in the following areas; floral
biology and ecophysiology. The aims of this article were to draw up a list of literature
currently available on Hylocereus, grouping the references which covers importance, botany,
vegetative and reproductive biology, cultivation, manuring, pollination, harvesting, pest &
disease. So that everyone become familiar with dragon fruit.
2. Nutritional security and importance of dragon fruit
Proximate nutraceutical values in g or mg per 100 g edible portion of white-flesh dragon fruit
are as follows: moisture (85.3 %), protein (1.1), fat (0.57), crude fiber (1.34), energy (Kcal)
(67.7), ash (0.56), carbohydrates (11.2), glucose (5.7), fructose (3.2), sucrose (not detected),
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Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry
sorbitol (0.33); vitamin C (3.0), vitamin A (0.01), niacin (2.8),
Ca (10.2), Fe (3.37), Mg (38.9), P (27.75), K (272.0), Na (8.9)
and Zn (0.35) and for red-flesh fruit, moisture (82.5-83.0),
protein (0.159-0.229), fat (0.21-0.61), crude fiber (0.7-0.9)
and ascorbic acid (8-9) (Jaafar et al., 2009) [12].
Regarding different uses of Dragon fruit, young stems of H.
undatus are edible as well as fresh flower buds that are eaten
as vegetables, while dried ones are used for homemade
medicine. In Taiwan, dry flowers are consumed as vegetables
besides this it is also taken in the form of juice, jam, or
preserves according to the taste needed, besides used as fresh
table fruit. According to Luders, and Mc Mahon, G., (2006)
[16] it is widely used as juice and in fruit salads at restaurants.
Regular consumption of Dragon fruit helps in fighting against
cough and asthma; also it helps for healing wounds and cuts
quickly due to it contains high amount of vitamin C.
However, the high level of vitamin C found in Dragon fruit
plays an important role to enhance immune system and also to
stimulate the activity of other antioxidant in the body. In
addition to being used as a food colouring agents,
consumption of Dragon fruit mostly as fresh fruit as relieving
thirst due to it contains high water level compared with other
nutrient levels
Health benefits of Dragon fruit is also rich in flavonoids that
act against cardio related problems, also dragon fruit aids to
treat bleeding problems of vaginal discharge. Dragon fruits
are rich in fibers; however, it aids in digestion of food.
Dragon fruit is also packed with B vitamin group (B1, B2 and
B3) which possess an important role in health benefit. Vitamin
B1 helps in increasing energy production and in carbohydrate
metabolism, Vitamin B2 in Dragon Fruit acts as a
multivitamin; however, it aids to improve and recover the loss
of appetite. And Vitamin B3 present in dragon fruit plays an
important role in lowering bad cholesterol levels; it provides
smooth and moisturizes skin appearance. As well as it
improves eye sight and prevent hypertension. Dragon fruit is
also helpful in reducing blood sugar levels in people suffering
from type 2 diabetes, studies suggest that the glucose found in
Dragon fruit helps in controlling the blood sugar level for
diabetes patients. It contains high level of phosphorus and
calcium. It helps to reinforce bones and play an important role
in tissue formation and forms healthy teeth.
3. Botanical classification
Dragon fruit belongs to the botanical family Cactaceae and
genus Hylocereus. This genus is mainly characterized by
climbing vine cactus with aerial roots that bear a glabrous
attractive berry with large scales reported by Fournet, (2002)
[11]. Hylocereus spp. are diploid (2n = 22) (De Dios, 2004 and
Lichtenzveig, et al. 2000) [9, 15]. The dicotyledonous family
Cactaceae (Caryophyllales) comprises between 120 and 200
genera consisting of between 1500 and 2000 species found
especially in the semi-desert, hot tropical regions of Latin
America reported by Spichiger et al., (2000) [26]. Cactaceae
are mainly appreciated for their ornamental qualities, but they
also include nearly 250 cultivated species of fruit-bearing and
industrial crops (Fouqué, 1969) [1]. However, few species are
of economic value. The genus Opuntia Mill. is probably the
most widely cultivated for its fruits (cactus pear, prickly pear,
Barbary fig or tuna) and Dactylopius coccus O. Costa, the
host of the cochineal insect from which red dye is extracted
(Mizrahi et al., 1997) [19]. The cochineal insect is also raised
on Nopalea cochenillifera (L.) Salm- Dyck (Spichiger, et. al.
2000) [26]. We focused more particularly on the Hylocereus
species. There are many contradictions concerning the
botanical classification of Hylocereus (Mizrahi et al., 1997
and Daubresse Balayer, 1999) [19, 8] that are probably
explained by the similar morphological characteristics and / or
environmental conditions. The Britton and Rose classification
(Britton and Rose., 1963) [6] was followed commonly but also
the results of recent genetic analyses (Tel-Zur et. al., 2004) [27]
took into consideration.
The five-species determined by Britton and Rose
classification Britton and Rose (1963) [6] can be more
precisely described:
1. H. purpusii (Weing.) Britton and Rose - has very large
(25 cm) flowers with margins; outer perianth segments
are more or less reddish; middle perianth segments
golden and inner perianth segments white. It presents
scarlet, oblong fruit covered with large scales (length:
10–15 cm; weight: 150– 400 g); red flesh with many
small black seeds; pleasant flesh texture, but not very
pronounced.
2. H. polyrhizus (Web.) Britton and Rose - has very long
(25–30 cm) flowers with margins; outer reddish perianth
segments, especially at the tips; and rather short and
yellowish stigma lobes. Its scarlet fruit (length: 10– 12
cm; weight: 130–350 g) is oblong and covered with
scales that vary in size; it has a red flesh with many small
black seeds, pleasant flesh texture and good taste.
3. H. costaricensis (Web.) Britton and Rose – Represented
by vigorous vines, perhaps the stoutest of this genus.
Stems are waxy white and flowers are nearly the same as
H. polyrhizus; its scarlet fruit (diameter: 10–15 cm;
weight: 250–600 g) is ovoid and covered with scales that
vary in size; it has a red purple flesh with many small
black seeds, pleasant flesh texture and good taste.
4. H. undatus (Haw.) Britton and Rose - has long and green
stems, more or less horny in the age margins. Flowers are
very long (up to 29 cm), outer perianth segments are
green (or yellow-green) and inner perianth segments pure
white. Its rosy-red fruit (length: 15–22 cm; weight: 300–
800 g) is oblong and covered with large and long scales,
red and green at the tips; it has a white flesh with many
small black seeds, pleasant flesh texture and a good taste.
5. H. trigonus (Haw.) Saff - represented by slender, green
with margins, not horny stems. The areoles are located on
the top of the rib’s undulation. Spines, at first greenish,
soon turn dark brown. Its red fruit (diameter: 7–9 cm;
weight: 120–250 g) is ovoid or oblong, becoming nearly
smooth; the white flesh has many small black seeds and
pleasant flesh texture, but not a very pronounced flavour.
3.1 Origin, distribution and ecology of Dragon fruit
Most Hylocereus species originate principally is originated in
Mexico and Central and South America (Mizrahi et al., 1997
and Daubresse Balayer, 1999) [19, 8]. Today Hylocereus sp. are
distributed all over the world (in tropical and subtropical
regions) but H. undatus is the most cosmopolitan species in
India followed by H. costaricensis. Because of the hardy
nature of this fruit crop it can survive adverse climatic
conditions of arid and semi-arid region of India. Hylocereus
species are semi-epiphytes and consequently normally prefer
to grow in the half-shade (conditions provided in nature by
trees), however, H. undatus, H. costaricensis and H. purpusii,
are some species can be grown in full sun. However, very hot
sun and insufficient water may lead to burning of the stems
and flower bud drop. In the Neveg Desert in Israel, the most
favorable conditions for growth and fruit production were
found to be 30% shade for H. polyrhizus (Raveh et.al., 1998)
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Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry
[24]. In the French West Indies (Guadeloupe and Saint-Martin),
cultivation of H. trigonus is only possible with about 50%
shade. Excess water systematically results in the abscission of
flowers and young fruits (Barbeau, G. 1990 and Le Bellec,
2004) [4, 14]. Hylocereus species can adapt to different types of
well-drained soil (Daubresse Balayer, 1999; Barbeau, 1990
and Bárcenas, 1994) [4, 8], 5. In Vietnam, H. undatus has
undergone extensive development with nearly 2000 ha under
cultivation (Daubresse Balayer, 1999) [8].
3.2 Vegetative and reproductive biology of red and white
pitaya
The flowers of these two species appear from the uplifting of
areoles; they are large (more or less 30 cm) (Anon, 2017) [3],
in the shape of a funnel and nocturnal. The ovary is located at
the base of a long tube carrying the foliaceous scales to the
exterior is 3 cm in length (Anon, 2017) [3]. There are
numerous stamens on a slender anther stalk. The unusually
large, tubular style is 20 cm in length and 0.5 cm in diameter
(Anon, 2017) [3]; the stigmas have 21 slender lobes, creamy
green in colour (Daubresse Balayer, 1999; Luders, 1999 and
Anon, 2017) [8, 3]. Floral growth does not depend on water
availability, but on day length; in Vietnam, floral induction is
often triggered using artificial light to increase day length
however water unavailability after bud break will cause death
of bud and flower drop (Anon, 2017) [3]. The floral buds can
remain in the latent stage for many weeks (Daubresse
Balayer, 1999) [8] and the beginning of flowering generally
occurs after the rainy season (Barbeau, 1990 and Anon, 2017)
[4, 3]. In the southern hemisphere, H. undatus and H.
costaricensis flower from November to April and, in the
northern hemisphere, from May to October (Barbeau, 1990
and N’Guyen, 1996) [21, 4]. Under west Bengal condition
flowering begins from May and extended up to 1st week of
December after 14 months of planting of the cutting with
seven major flowering cycles (Anon, 2017) [3]. The number of
flowering episodes or flushes depends on the species: seven to
eight for H. costaricensis (Anon, 2017) [3] and five to six for
H. undatus. There is a period of 3 to 4 weeks between
flowering flushes (Barbeau, 1990 and Le Bellec, 2004) [4, 14]
which makes it possible to see floral buds, flowers, young
fruits and mature fruits on the same plant at the same time.
The periods between the appearance of floral buds (lifting of
the areole) and flowering (stage 1), and between flower
anthesis and fruit harvest (stage 2) are very short: around 15
to 20 days for the first stage and 30 days for the second stage.
Dehiscence takes place a few hours before the complete
opening of the flower. Pollen is abundant, heavy and not
powdery and yellow in colour. Flowers open at between 20:00
and 20:30; the stigma dominates the stamens (the position of
the stigma at this stage encourages allogamy). Flowers bloom
only for a day and then close (whether fertilized or not) in the
morning of the day after anthesis. The following day, petals
become soft and then slowly dry. The lower part of a non–
fertilized flower becomes yellowish and the whole flower
falls off 4 to 6 days later, while the lower part of a fertilized
flower remains greenish and increases enormously in volume,
indicating that the fruit has set (Anon, 2017) [3].
4. Cultivation techniques of Dragon fruit
Cultivation of dragon fruit already started in different part of
west Bengal with many success stories of farmer from
different regions. However, it was first successfully grown in
Gujarat state. Many nursery men started propagation for
raising planting material of dragon fruit.
4.1 Propagation and planting density
H. undatus and H. costaricensis can be multiplied naturally
and very easily by cutting off the stem as soon as it touches
the ground (Fouqué, 1969) [1]. It takes 14 months to come to
bearing under west Bengal condition; however duration may
vary in different locality for different climatic conditions.
Seeds can also be used as propagation material but it will take
3 years to come to bearing. The hardiness of the crop enables
it to survive under field condition. Provided cuttings are at
least (50 to 70) cm in length (N’Guyen, 1996) [21] and are
regularly watered in order to ensure satisfactory rooting. If all
these conditions are provided around 90% of the cuttings
ensure rooting (Le Bellec, 2003) [13]. The distance between
plants depends on the type of support used. With a vertical
support a 2–3 m distance between planting lines is required
which could accommodate 2000 and 3750 cuttings/ ha, at the
rate of three cuttings per support is planted (N’Guyen, 1996
and Barbeau, 1990) [21, 4]. With horizontal or inclined supports
the density can be much higher since the cuttings are planted
every 50–75 cm around the production table (6500 cuttings
·ha–1) or along the inclined support (6500 cuttings–1) (Le
Bellec, 2003) [13]. Planting at a distance of 2.5 m each to row
and between the plants with 4 cutting/ support can
accommodate 6400 plants / ha and also gives good yields and
quality of fruits (Anon, 2017) [3]. The height of these different
types of support should be between (1.40 and 1.60) m for
vertical supports and between (1 and 1.20) m for horizontal
and inclined supports to facilitate management of the crop.
4.2 Scenario of Dragon fruit cultivation in India
Dragon fruit is a semi epiphytic vine plant which can climb
naturally to any natural or artificial support they meet (trees,
wood or cement posts, stone walls, etc.) (Rondón, 1998), due
to presence of aerial roots. Many different types of support
are used, but mainly vertical supports made of wood or
cement and iron posts (N’Guyen, 1996 and Barbeau, 1990) [21,
4] and on horizontal and inclined supports. Plant growth is
rapid and continuous, though possibly with a vegetative rest
period when the climatic conditions are unfavorable (drought
and very low temperatures).
Growing them flat on the ground is not recommended, firstly
because it makes cultivation more difficult (pollination,
harvest, etc.), secondly because contact with the ground
causes damage to the vines (Le Bellec, 2003) [13]. Pitahaya are
thus best grown on living or dead supports (De Dios, et.al.,
2000 and Barbeau, 1990) [10, 4]. Plant growth is rapid and
continuous, though possibly with a vegetative rest period
when the climatic conditions are unfavourable (drought and
very low temperatures). When vertical and horizontal
supports are used, pruning is important and the stems should
be selected in such a way as to force the plant to climb over
the entire support. All lateral growth and parts of the plant
facing the ground should be removed, while the main stems
and branch stems are kept, except those that touch the ground.
Major pruning is carried out the first year after planting.
Whatever the support used, the stem must be attached to it
with a clip. The aim of maintenance pruning is to limit bunch
growth and this should be carried out as early as the second
year after planting. In practice, the extent of pruning depends
on the type of support and its strength. For example, a 3-year-
old plant weighs around 70 kg (Le Bellec, 2003) [13]. Even if
this weight is not in itself a problem for the different types of
support, bunches may not be able to withstand violent winds.
Pruning consists of removing all the damaged stems from the
plant in addition to those that are entangled with one another.
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Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry
The post-harvest pruning encourages the growth of new
young shoots that will bear flowers the following year.
4.3 Mineral nutrition and irrigation requirement
For better yield performance of the crop proper nutrient
requirement is needed. The pitahaya’s root system is
superficial and can rapidly assimilate even the smallest
quantity of nutrients. Mineral and organic nutrition is
particularly advantageous and, when they are combined, their
experiment conducted in Bidhan Chandra Krishi
Viswavidyalaya for different combination of N, P, K fertilizer
doses revealed the dose of N 450 P2O5 350 K2O 300 perform best
result for yield and quality. The nutrients were supplied as per
treatment schedule in four split doses to each pillar having
four plants @ 10, 10 and 30% of total, before flowering, 20,
40 and 25% at fruit set, 30, 20 and 30% at harvest and finally
40, 30 and 15 % of total N P2O5 K2O after two months of
harvest (Anon, 2017) [3].
Even if pitahaya can survive with very low rainfall, many
months of drought, when good quality fruits are required, a
regular water supply is needed. Regular irrigation is
important, because it enables the plant to build sufficient
reserves not only to flower at the most favourable time but
also to ensure the development of the fruits. Local micro-
irrigation is recommended. In addition to the efficiency of the
water supplied by this system, micro-irrigation avoids uneven
and excess watering that can result in the flowers and the
young fruits falling off (Barbeau, 1990) [4].
4.4 Pollination
The lack of genetic diversity and/or the absence of pollinating
agents in certain production areas mean that manual cross-
pollination pollination is needed to ensure fruit set and
development (Weiss, et. al., 1994; Le Bellec, 2004 and
Castillo et. al., 2003) [28, 14, 7]. Manual pollination is simple
and this operation is facilitated by the floral characteristics of
Hylocereus, as the different floral parts are huge. Finally,
manual pollination may be carried out from before anthesis of
the flower (from 4:30 P.M.) until 11:00 A.M. the next day.
These manual pollinations are worth undertaking and the
fruits obtained are of excellent quality (Le Bellec, 2004) [14]. A
butterfly belonging to the Sphingideae family, of the genus
Maduca (Daubresse Balayer, 1999) [8] and early morning by
bees (Anon, 2017) [3]. Pollination is accomplished by opening
the flower by pinching the bulging part. This reveals the
stigmata, which are then covered with pollen with a brush.
Alternatively, the anthers can be directly deposited (with
minimal pressure) on the stigmata with the fingers. The pollen
can be removed from a flower of a different clone (or from
another species) and stored in a box until needed. The pollen
removed from two flowers will be enough for around 100
pollinations with a brush. It can be stored for from (3 to 9)
months at –18 °C to – 196 °C without risk. Fruits obtained
after pollination using pollen stored at 4 °C for (3 to 9)
months are very small (Metz, et. al., 2000). However, the
quality of the fruits resulting from free pollination is generally
lower than that of those obtained by manual cross-pollination
(Le Bellec, 2004) [14].
4.5 Harvesting
The fruit skin colors very late in the maturation stage,
changing from green to red or rosy-pink (25 or 27) days
(depending on the species) after anthesis (Nerd, et al., 1999)
[22]. It will take 30 days for harvest to H. costaricensis (Anon,
2017) [3]. Four or five days later, the fruits reach their
maximal colouration and leads to splitting and cause
economical loss (Anon, 2017) [3]. The first harvest begins
from the 14th months (H. costaricensis) after the cuttings were
planted under west Bengal condition; the time period between
flowering and harvest is short and varies only slightly, from
(27 to 33) days depending on the ecology (Barbeau, 1990 and
Le Bellec, 2004) [4, 14]. The yield depends on planting density
and is around (10 to 30) t/ha (Barbeau, 1990 [4]; Le Bellec,
2003 [13] and Anon, 2017) [3]. The absence of a peduncle
makes picking difficult. The present harvesting technique of
simply move the fruit in clock wise direction and twisting the
fruit cause less or no injury to the fruits (Anon, 2017) [3]. The
fruits are not very fragile, but to ensure a good quality product
certain precautions should be taken; for example, careful
handling during processing and storage, especially for H.
costaricensis whose foliated scales is brittle.
5. Pests and diseases
Few pests have been recorded on Hylocereus. Ants belonging
to the genera Atta (Barbeau, 1990) [4] and Solenopsis
(N’Guyen, 1996 and Le Bellec, 2004) [21, 14] are very
notorious pest and can cause major damage to the plants as
well as to the flowers and fruits. Cotinus mutabilis perforates
the stem and Leptoglossus zonatus sucks the sap, leaving
stains and some deformation (Barbeau, 1990) [4]. Different
species of aphids and scales have also been observed on fruits
and flowers. Rats and birds can cause serious damage, mainly
to flowers (Le Bellec, 2003) [13] and fruits (N’Guyen, 1996)
[21] as well as ripe fruits. In fact, bees can be extremely
efficient and, after only a few hours of activity, they will have
harvested all the pollen. The pollen must thus be collected
before the bees arrive and manual pollination carried out the
next morning as soon as the bees have left the plantation.
Different fungal (Gloeosporium agaves, Macssonina agaves,
Dothiorella sp. and Botryosphaeria dothidea), viral (Cactus
virus X), and bacterial (Xanthomonas sp. and Erwinia sp.)
diseases are also reported in the literature and can have major
consequences (N’Guyen, 1996 and Barbeau, 1990) [21, 4].
6. Conclusion
From the above article it is concluded that commercially,
dragon fruit appear to have numerous selling points; they are
attractive in shape and colour, and very good nutraceutical
property which attract growers from all over the India. The
red flesh species i.e H. costaricensis are additionally rich in
betalains, meeting the increasing trade interest for antioxidant
products and natural food colourant. Fruits are easy to keep
fresh under room condition. Several processed products can
also be made from the pulp of the fruit. The crop is hardy and
can survive in any type of climatic condition favourable for
flowering and fruiting and soil condition provided with good
drainage. In general, they produce fruits quickly and few
diseases and pests are encountered at the present time. This
fruit crop needs research in different aspects.
7. References
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3. Anonymous Perween T. Thesis entitled “Studies on the
effect of nutrient application in vegetative and
reproductive phenology of dragon fruit” submitted to the
Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur west
Bengal, India. 2017, 29-44.
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Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry
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