Dragon fruit, also known as pitahaya, has several health benefits. It is rich in antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and fiber which can help fight diabetes, reduce inflammation, and promote digestive and heart health. Dragon fruit is cultivated as both an ornamental plant and fruit crop. It grows best in tropical climates with temperatures between 20-30 degrees Celsius and at least 50cm of annual rainfall. Propagation is usually through cuttings, and plants are spaced 2 meters apart in pits filled with soil and compost. Dragon fruits are harvested 1 month after flowering from August to December, with average yields of 5-6 tonnes per acre.

1. DRAGON FRUIT

4. Hylocereus undatus
Family _ Cactacceae
common name_ dragon fruit,
Pitahaya,
Belle of the night,
Strawberry pear.
Nickname _ ‘noble woman’or ‘queen of the night’.

5. Surprising value and benefit of dragon fruit
• It is highly valued for its reported neutraceutical properties.
• Heart healthy,preventing asthma,weight management,
• To clean up digestive system,eat a dragon fruit.fill up on finer.
• Active antioxidants,fight diabetes,reduce signs of aging,treating hair colour,
Reduces inflammation & Prebiotics.
• It is rich in antioxidants,calories,protein,finer, sugar,vitamin A ,vitamin C,
calcium,iron,magnesium and phosphorus.

6. Cultivation of dragon fruit
• This plant is treated as an ornamental plant as well as fruit producing plant.
• It is consumed as a fresh fruit or used in jams, ice creams,jelly production
fruit juice and wine.
Major types :-
- red colour fruit with white colour flesh.
- red colour fruit with red colour flesh.
- yellow colour fruit with white colour flesh.

7. • Climate : tropical climate best for its cultivation,
plant requires minimum annual rainfall of 50cm ,
temperature about 20°C to 30°C
• Soil : soils from Sandy loan to clay loam. However,Sandy soil
with good organic matter,internal drainage,weed free land
& soil pH 5.5 to 7 is best for cultivation.
• Propagation: most common propagation method by cutting,also by seed.
plant to plant space of 2×2meter and pit size 60cm×60cm×60cm.
pit should be filled with top soil and compost with 100grams of superphosphate.
plant density – an about 1700 plants can be accommodated in 1 acre of land.

8. • Harvesting: These plants start bearing fruits in the first year itself.
plants start flowering in May to June month &
bears fruits from August to December month.dragon
fruits become ready for harvesting after 1 month of
flowering.
• Yield : An average yield of 5to 6 tonnes per acre can be
expected.
THANK YOU