Pitahaya

A pitaya () or pitahaya () is the fruit of several different cactus species indigenous to the Americas. Pitaya usually refers to fruit of the genus ''Stenocereus'', while pitahaya or dragon fruit refers to fruit of the genus '' Selenicereus'' (formerly ''Hylocereus''), both in the family Cactaceae. Dragon fruit is cultivated in Peru, Mexico, South Asia, Southeast Asia, East Asia, the United States, the Caribbean, Australia, Mesoamerica and throughout tropical and subtropical regions of the world.

Vernacular names

These fruits are commonly known in English as "dragon fruit", a name used since 1963, apparently resulting from the leather-like skin and prominent scaly spikes on the fruit exterior. The names ''pitahaya'' and ''pitaya'' derive from Mexico, and ''pitaya roja'' in Central America and northern South America, possibly relating to pitahaya for names of tall cacti species with flowering fruit. The fruit may also be known as a ''strawberry pear''.

Geography

Pitahaya or dragon fruit is native to the region of southern Mexico along the Pacific coasts of Guatemala, Costa Rica, and El Salvador. The dragon fruit is cultivated in East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, the United States, the Caribbean, Australia, and throughout tropical and subtropical regions of the world.

Varieties

''Stenocereus''

''Stenocereus'' fruit (sour pitayas) are a variety that is commonly eaten in the arid regions of the Americas. They are more sour and refreshing, with juicier flesh and a stronger taste. The sour pitaya or ''pitaya agria'' ('' S. gummosus'') in the Sonoran Desert has been an important food source for indigenous peoples of the Americas. The Seri people of northwestern Mexico still harvest the fruit, and call the plant ''ziix is ccapxl'' "thing whose fruit is sour". The fruit of related species, such as '' S. queretaroensis'' and the dagger cactus ('' S. griseus''), are also locally important foods. The fruit of the organ pipe cactus ('' S. thurberi'', called ''ool'' by the Seris) is the ''pitaya dulce'' "sweet pitaya". It has a more tart aroma than ''Selenicereus'' fruit, described as somewhat reminiscent of watermelon.

Dragon fruit ''Selenicereus''

Sweet pitayas come in three types, all with leathery, slightly leafy skin:
* ''Selenicereus undatus'' (''Pitaya blanca'' or white-fleshed pitaya, also known as ''Hylocereus undatus'') has pink-skinned fruit with white flesh. This is the most commonly seen "dragon fruit".
* '' Selenicereus costaricensis'' (''Pitaya roja'' or red-fleshed pitaya, also known as ''Hylocereus costaricensis'', and possibly incorrectly as ''Hylocereus polyrhizus'') has red-skinned fruit with red flesh.
* '' Selenicereus megalanthus'' (''Pitaya amarilla'' or yellow pitaya, also known as ''Hylocereus megalanthus'') has yellow-skinned fruit with white flesh.

The fruit normally weighs from ; some may reach . Early imports from Colombia to Australia were designated "''Hylocereus ocampensis''" (or "''Cereus repandus''", the red fruit) and "''Cereus triangularis''" (supposedly, the yellow fruit). It is not quite certain to which species these taxa refer.

Cultivation

After a thorough cleaning of the seeds from the pulp of the fruit, the seeds may be stored when dried. The ideal fruit is unblemished and overripe.

Seeds grow well in a compost or potting soil mix – even as a potted indoor plant. Pitaya cacti usually germinate after between 11 and 14 days after shallow planting. As they are cacti, overwatering is a concern for home growers. 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. Once the plant reaches a mature in weight, the plant may flower.

Commercial plantings can be done at high density with between . Plants can take up to 60 months/260 weeks to come into full commercial production, at which stage yields of can be expected.

Pitaya flowers bloom overnight and usually wilt by the evening. They rely on nocturnal pollinators such as bats or moths for fertilization. Self-fertilization will not produce fruit in some species and while cross-breeding has resulted in several "self-fertile" varieties, cross-pollinating with a second, genetically distinct plant of the same species generally increases fruit set and quality. This limits the capability of home growers to produce the fruit. However, the plants can flower between three and six times per year depending on growing conditions. Like other cacti, if a healthy piece of the stem is broken off, it may take root in the soil and become its own plant.

The plants can endure temperatures up to and very short periods of frost, but will not survive long exposure to freezing temperatures. The cacti thrive most in USDA zones 10–11, but may survive outdoors in zone 9a or 9b.

''Selenicereus'' has adapted to live in dry tropical climates with a moderate amount of rain. In numerous regions, it has escaped cultivation to become a weed and is classified as an invasive weed in some countries.

Pests and diseases

Stems and fruits are susceptible to several diseases caused by fungi, bacteria, a nematode, and a virus. Overwatering or excessive rainfall can cause the flowers to drop and fruit to rot. The bacterium '' Xanthomonas campestris'' causes the stems to rot. '' Dothiorella'' fungi can cause brown spots on the fruit. Other fungi known to infect pitaya include ''Botryosphaeria dothidea'', ''Colletotrichum gloeosporioides'' and ''Bipolaris cactivora''.

As food

The fruit's texture is sometimes likened to that of the kiwifruit because of its black, crunchy seeds. The seed oil contains the fatty acids linoleic acid and linolenic acid. Dragon fruit is used to flavor and color juices and alcoholic beverages, such as "Dragon's Blood Punch" and the "Dragotini". The flowers can be eaten or steeped as tea.

The red and purple colors of some ''Selenicereus'' fruits are due to betacyanins, a family of pigments that includes betanin, the same substance that gives beets, Swiss chard, and amaranth their red color.O. P. S. Rebecca, A. N. Boyce and S. Chandran (2010)
"Pigment identification and antioxidant properties of red dragon fruit (''Hylocereus polyrhizus'')"
African Journal of Biotechnology, volume 9, issue 10, pp. 1450–54.C. S. Tang and M. H. Norziah (2007
"Stability of betacyanin pigments from red purple pitaya fruit (''Hylocereus polyrhizus''): Influence of pH, temperature, metal ions and ascorbic acid"
Indonesian Journal of Chemistry, volume 7, issue 3, pp. 327–31.

Nutrients

As the nutrient content of raw pitaya has not been thoroughly analyzed or published as of 2019, the USDA FoodData Central database reports one limited product label entry from a manufacturer of a branded product, showing that a reference serving of ''dried'' pitaya provides of food energy, 82% carbohydrates, 4% protein, and 11% of the Daily Value each for vitamin C and calcium (see USDA link in table).

Seed oils

The fatty acid compositions of two pitaya seed oils were determined as follows:

Gallery

File:Dragonfruit tree.jpg, Pitaya tree
File:Naozhou - P1570863 - dragon fruit.JPG, Pitaya plantation in Naozhou Island, China
File:Hylocereus undatus in bloom in Kona.jpg, Nocturnal pitahaya flowers
File:Pitaya cross section ed2.jpg, White pitahaya ''Selenicereus undatus''
File:Yellow dragon fruit (50831s).jpg, Yellow pitahaya ''Selenicereus megalanthus''
File:Hylocereus polyrhizus.jpg, Red pitahaya ''Selenicereus costaricensis''
File:Pitaya Colors.jpg, Pitaya fruit in various colors
File:MAPElNorte025.JPG, Dress for a folk dance called ''Flor de Pitahaya'' "Pitahaya Flower" from Baja California Sur displayed at the Museo de Arte Popular in Mexico City

See also

* List of culinary fruits
* ''Opuntia'' – prickly pear cacti with edible "cactus figs" or "tunas" fruit

References

External links

*{{Commons category-inline, Pitaya

Cacti of Mexico
Cacti of South America
Central American cuisine
Crops originating from the Americas
Desert fruits
Drought-tolerant plants
Epiphytes
Edible fruits
Selenicereus
Mesoamerican cuisine
Night-blooming plants
Stenocereus
Tropical agriculture
Tropical fruit