A Review on New Approaches in Dragon Fruit Production, Nutraceutical Insights and Morphological Dynamics
Sangeeta Lakshmeshwara
Department of Fruit Science, University of Horticultural Sciences, Bagalkot, Karnataka, 587101, India.
Shubham Jain *
Department of Fruit Science, ANDUAT, Ayodhya, India.
S. Manasa
Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Near RTO Office, Rayachoty Road, Utukur, Kadapa, YSR District, Andhra Pradesh, 516003, India.
Anshuman Singh
Department of Horticulture, KNIPSS Sultanpur, 228118, India.
Alemla Imchen
Department of Horticulture, School of Agricultural Sciences (SAS), Nagaland University, Medziphema Campus, Nagaland, India.
Pasupuleti Venkata Siva Prasad
Department of Fruit Science, College of Horticulture, Anantharajupeta, Dr Ysr Horticultural University, India.
Osheen Raizada
Department of Fruit Science, Mahatma Gandhi University of Horticulture and Forestry, Sankra-Durg (C.G), India.
Vikas Yadav
Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, ANDUAT, Ayodhya, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Dragon fruit (Hylocereus spp.) is recently introduced amazing fruit in India, its cultivation gaining popularity because of its high nutritional value and antioxidant property. Recently, it drawn the much attention of the Indian consumers owing to its pleasant flavour, colour, with their attractive appearance, tremendous health and nutritional benefits. Dragon fruit extracts from stems, flowers, peels and pulps have beneficial biological properties against pathogenic microbes like bacteria, fungi and viruses as well as diseases like diabetes, obesity, hyperlipidemia and cancer. Now a days, Indian growers are much interested in its cultivation due to its promising yield, easy cultivation, great commercial potential, which increases the economical status of the farmers. The area under cultivation is insufficient to fulfill the requirement of peoples hence, there is a need to increase dragon fruit production in India. At present, a very few information is available on production aspects of dragon fruit this review papers is dealt with the knowledge regarding the botany, nutritional composition, uses, health benefits, species, cultivation aspects of dragon fruit based on recent updates of some of the research findings.
Keywords: Dragon fruit, nutraceutical properties, botanical description, cultivation aspects