Phenotypic diversity of morphological traits of pitahaya (Hylocereus spp.) and its agronomic potential in the Amazonas region, Peru

• Autores: Santos Pelaez, Julio Cesar, Saravia Navarro, David, Cruz Delgado, Julio H. I., Del Carpio Salas, Miguel Angel, Barboza, Elgar, Casanova Núñez Melgar, David Pavel
• Formato: artículo
• Fecha de Publicación: 2024
• Institución: Instituto Nacional de Innovación Agraria
• Repositorio: INIA-Institucional
• Lenguaje: inglés
• OAI Identifier: oai:repositorio.inia.gob.pe:20.500.12955/2602
• Enlace del recurso: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12955/2602; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14111968
• Nivel de acceso: acceso abierto
• Materia: Biodiversity; Characterization; Descriptor; Dragon fruit; Genetic improvement; Hylocereus spp.; https://purl.org/pe-repo/ocde/ford#4.01.06; Biodiversidad; Caracterización; Subject headings; Encabezamiento de material; Dragon fruits; Pitahaya; Mejoramiento genético; Hylocereus

Pitahaya (Hylocereus spp.) is an economically significant cactus fruit in Peru, renowned for its rich nutritional profile and antioxidant properties while exhibiting wide biological diversity. This study aimed to morphologically characterize seven pitahaya accessions using qualitative and quantitative descriptors related to the cladodes, flowers, and fruits. Univariate and multivariate (FAMD, PCA, MCA, and clustering) analyses were employed to identify and classify the accessions based on their morphological traits. The analyses revealed three distinct groups: one consisting solely of AC.07; another with AC.02, AC.04, and AC.06; and a third including AC.01, AC.03, and AC.05. The first group exhibited superior characteristics, particularly in fruit traits such as the stigma lobe count (23.3), number of bracts (26.5 mm), and length of apical bracts (15.75 mm). The second group recorded the highest spine count (3.21), bract length (16.95 mm), and awn thickness (5.12 mm). The third group had the highest bract count (37) and an average locule number (23.65). These findings highlight the significant morphological diversity among the accessions, indicating the potential for classification and selection in pitahaya cultivation. The potential of AC.07 stands out in terms of its agronomic qualities, such as its fruit weight (451.93 g) and pulp weight (292.5 g), surpassing the other accessions.