ड्रैगन फ्रूट: स्वास्थ्य लाभ और खेती
The dragon fruit commonly refers as Pithaya, ‘wonderous Fruit’ is to ring in a revolution in the Indian horticulture scenario. In the last few years fruit has become very popular among farmers as well as consumers due to its enormous health benefits.
The fruit originally native to Central America and extensively cultivated around the world including Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and now knocking at our door in India.
The tree belongs to the genus hylocereus and a cactus vine by nature. The tree grows fast and requires a support system (a vertical pole) to grow vertically and a ring-like umbrella structure to supports its hanging branches.
The tree has a life span of 15-20 years and is merely affected by pests and diseases. However, excess heat cause sunburn which can be remedial easily.
Nutritional information
Dragon fruit is referred as to be one of the tropical super foods due to its nutrient richness. The dragon fruit is a rich source of protein, fat, vitamins, fibers, and various minerals and nutrients.
On average, the consumption of 100 grams of dragon fruit gives 60 kcal energy, 194g protein, 41g fat, 8g fiber, 85mg carotene, 7.55 mg calcium, 33.15 mg phosphorous, 6 mg iron, 1615 mg vitamin B1, 44 mg B2, 3635 mg B3 and 8.5 mg vitamin C (Li and Schellhorn, 2007).
Health benefits
The seed oil from dragon fruit is a rich source of vitamins E (tocopherol), vitamin B1, and several essential fatty acids. Vitamin E is well known for its unique role in protecting the body from free radical damage and oxidation. Furthermore, vitamin E is also essential for proper organ function in human bodies.
The carbohydrates present in dragon fruit promote the growth of probiotics in humans which is essential for good intestinal health. The study conducted by the US Institutes of Health suggested that the extract of dragon fruit reduces aortic stiffness and oxidative damage. Consumption of fruit eliminates the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular problems.
The extract from the leaves, fruit, rind, and flowers have wound-healing properties. Also, the fruit has anti-cancerous property, strengthens the immune system, regulate metabolism, decreases the risk of Alzheimer, and improve muscle coordination.
Dragon Fruit Cultivation Practices
Soil and climate requirements:
The cultivation of dragon fruit is quite easy as it is considered a hardy plant, can be grown in extreme climatic conditions (38-40ºC,), and in any sort of soil (Karunakaran, et al., 2014).
The tropical climatic conditions suits well to cultivate the dragon fruit and Indian conditions are ideal with moderate climate all round the year for cultivation; however, plants will not survive long exposure to freezing temperatures.
A temperature between 20-30 0C and rainfall of 40 to 60 cm is sufficient for growth. The incidences of heavy rains are not suitable as it leads to flower and fruit drop (Karunakaran and Arivalagan, 2019).
Planting and supporting structures
Dragon fruit plants can easily multiply through stem cutting which is ready to plant in 5-6 months (Tripathi et al., 2014). The seeds are collected from the fruit pulp after a thorough cleaning and can be stored when dried completely. Overripe and unblemished fruit is ideal to obtain the seeds.
Initially, the seeds are planted in pots that are filled with compost or potting soil mixture. Seeds usually germinated after 11-14 days after shallow planting. As their growth continues, these climbing plants will find something to climb on, which can involve putting aerial roots down from the branches in addition to the basal roots.
To support the plant growth a supporting structure is required including a vertical pole and a vertical umbrella-like structure. The tree has a life span of about 15-20 years, therefore the proper selection of poles and rings is crucial. The metal framing is to be avoided as it may cause sun/heat burn to the plants. Special RCC poles are cast to ensure strong and lasting support.
A proper pole to pole and row to row spacing is maintained for free movement during harvesting and maintenance work. The vertical poles should be 1 to 1.5 meters in height; whereas the ring structure (horizontal) should be 1.5 to 1.6 meters. Generally, four plants per pole are planted to give maximum yield.
Irrigation
The dragon fruit belongs to Cactaceae, therefore, requires a very small amount of water to grow as compared to other fruits. It can survive easily for several weeks without water. Although under limited water availability conditions drip irrigation is ideal.
Around one to two liters per day of water is enough during the summer/dry season; however, water requirements may increase or decrease depending on soil and climatic conditions.
Flowering, Fruit maturity and yield
The flowers bloom overnight and usually wilt by the morning. Self-fertilization will not produce fruit and rely on nocturnal pollinators such as bats or moths for fertilization. The tree generally produces fruits after 30–50 days after flowering and reaches 10 pounds in weight.
The fruiting appears 18-24 months after plantation during or after monsoons. Normally, plants can flower three to six times in a year depending on growing conditions can sometimes have 5-6 cycles of harvests per year. The expected yield from a single plant (3 years old) is around 30-35 kg.
The fruits should be picked as soon as possible because a delay of even 2-3 days can cause fruit to be rot. The best measure of ripeness is the pink color of skin which appeared on full maturity.
Also, the fruit becomes waxy, taut, emit a light tropical aroma, and vibrant uniformly, and upon over maturity, it turns gray and dull with limp leaves. Withered and brown fruit flaps (wings) are also signs of over-ripeness. However, fruit tastes better when it gets brown and a tad gray.
Dragon fruit cultivation scenario in India
Besides its ability to grow in a different kind of soil, climatic conditions, and rich nutrient the cultivation of fruit is not very much popular among Indian farmers. Only a very few farmers from Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu have started cultivation.
India imports almost 95% of its demand from countries such as Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Sri Lanka. Seeking the growing demand for fruit due to its taste, nutritional and medicinal properties in the Indian market more farmers from different states of India started dragon fruit's cultivation. Moreover, fruit also has a great potentiality for exports to the Gulf, European Union, and the USA.
CONCLUSION
Dragon Fruit which is enriched with multiple health benefits and ample scope of covering the wide markets over India, despite of quantitative promotions and trainings still lacking behind in proper adoption by farmers in India.
There are certain success stories but till now India has not stepped forward in direction of being self sufficient for its own production and marketing hub. There is a huge need for developing promotional campaigns and advertisements along with proper training and guidance by the experts for making the farmers well understood regarding the profits of cultivating the dragon fruit.
This fruit has wide scope of export market which could help India to stand a position in international trade and this scenario and status has to be imprinted in the mind of traders so that they will play active role in channelizing the product in local market as well as in the interstate and inter country trading centers.
REFERENCES
Li, Y., and H.E. Schellhorn. 2007. New developments and novel therapeutic perspectives for vitamin C. Journal of Nutrition 137, 2171-84.
Karunakaran, G., P.C. Tripathi, V. Sankar, T. Sakthivel and R. Senthilkumar.2014. Dragon Fruit – A new introduction crop to India: A potential market with promising future. Abstract In proceeding: National Seminar on Strategies for conservation, Improvement and utilization of underutilized fruits on 1-3rd December, 2014 at Karnataka, India. PP 138-139.
Karunakaran, G. and M. Arivalagan.2019. Dragon Fruit - A New Introduction Crop with Promising market. Indian Horticulture 63(1):8-11.
Tripathi, P.C., G. Karunakaran, V. Sankar and R. Senthil Kumar. 2014. Dragon fruit: Nutritive and Ruminative Fruit, Technical Bulletin No. 11/2014, pp1-9. Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bengaluru, India.
Authors
Brij Bihari Pandey1*, Ratnakumar Pasala1, Shruti Mahapatra2 and P Praveen Kumar1
1ICAR- Indian Institute of Oilseeds Research, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, Telangana (500 030), India
2Dept. of Agriculture, Sri Sri University, Bidyadharpur Arilo, Cuttack, Odisha (754 006), India
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