The Dragon Fruit or Pitaya or Pitahaya on the Reunion Island 2

* THE DRAGON FRUIT (OR PITAYA)

(OR PITAHAYA)

* IS ALSO PRODUCED ON THE REUNION ISLAND *

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Photos of the various plants and fruits

Here are some photos about the various growing supports, plants and fruits (Hylocereus undatus, Hylocereus costaricensis and CIRAD's hybrid Hylocereus).

Growing on stakes, whole fruit, then Hylocereus costaricensis cut view fruit

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Growing on tilted netting of Hylocereus undatus, whole fruit then cut view fruit

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CIRAD's hybrid Fruit (interior with red pulp)

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Note about two more fruits

This fruit, called yellow Pitaya, is the fruit of Selenicereus megalanthus. For a few years it's been much more difficult to find on the European market. It is produced only in Colombia and its selling price is higher than the price of Hylocereus fruits. It's also smaller and the waiting time between blooming and fruit harvest is 2,5 times longer than for Hylocereus fruits . It's a pity because its flavour is, apparently excellent.

This photo shows a fruit of Hylocereus trigonus, originating from the West Indies ; it's a species that is said to be endangered. In Guadeloupe, the CIRAD is carrying out a similar strategy to the one which was described in this article for Pitaya in the Reunion Island.

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Bibliographical sources

To write this article, I used several articles written by Fabrice Le Bellec, who sent them to me. You can consult these articles (at least a summary) by using the following links which were indicated to me by the author. You can contact the author using the following links :

http://www.edpsciences.org/articles/fruits/abs/2006/04/i6020/i6020.html

http://www.edpsciences.org/articles/fruits/abs/2004/06/i4038/i4038.html

http://www.edpsciences.org/articles/fruits/abs/2002/04/Lebellec/Lebellec.html

You can also go to Fabrice Bellec's website, which treats of tropical fruits.

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