Did you know that the Dragon Fruit or Pitaya, an exotic fruit originating in Central and South America, now a commercial crop in Karnataka, is a climbing cactus known as hylocereus, a cross between a kiwi, a pear and a watermelon known for its herbal benefits?

Dragon Fruit or Pitaya

Did you know that the Dragon Fruit or Pitaya, an exotic fruit originating in Central and South America, now a commercial crop in Karnataka, is a climbing cactus known as hylocereus, a cross between a kiwi, a pear and a watermelon known for its herbal benefits?

The Dragon Fruit or Pitaya of the genus Stenocereus, with leathery-like skin and prominent scaly spikes on the fruit exterior, a climbing cactus known as hylocereus, a cross between a kiwi, a pear and a watermelon, originating in Central and South America, is now grown commercially in Karnataka besides throughout tropical and subtropical regions of the world. It is an exotic fruit uniquely grown on concrete or stone pillars of different types of support frames and trellises. They come in three types - Selenicereus undatus (white-fleshed pitaya), Selenicereus costaricensis (red-fleshed pitaya), and Selenicereus megalanthus (yellow pitaya). They are a variety that is commonly eaten in the arid regions. They are more sour and refreshing, with juicier flesh and a stronger taste. 

Cultivated as a monocrop, a photosensitive species requiring appropriate sunlight to grow, it blooms during the night. and usually wilt by the evening. It is also good for agro-forestry as it is grown in wide variety of soils and in areas with average rainfall of 500-1500 mm in well drained soil conditions prefering slighlty acidiic soil. It grows upto altitude 1700 m. The plant is propogated both by seeds and by vegetative prapogation from cuttings. The fruit normally weighs from 150 to 600 grams, and some may reach 1 kg in weight. Dragon fruit plant starts yielding early with the first harvest done after 15 months while its optimal production occurs only after three years. The harvest season is between May and September. The average yield per acre is around five tonnes and is said to be a sound commercial proposition. In Karnataka, "ನೀರೇ ಇಲ್ಲದ ಬರದು ಭೂಮಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಡ್ರ್ಯಾಗನ್‌ ಫ್ರೂಟ್‌ ಕೃಷಿ: ಜೇಬು ತುಂಬಾ ಅದಾಯ ತಂದು ಕೊಟ್ಟ ವಿದೇಶಿ ಹಣ್ಣು" (meaning: 'in a parched lands without water, growing the foreign (Videshi) Dragon Furit is a propfiotable proposition'). 

The Dragon Fruit is used widely in industries particularly in wine making, and red and pink pulp of fruit is used as food colouring agent. Its Industrial products include juice, sherbets, jam, syrup, ice cream, yogurt, jelly, preserve, candy and pastries. Sometimes , the pulp is mixed in pizzas.

Dragon Fruit's medicinal properties are many. The red-fleshed varieties are rich in antioxidant. It is rich in vitamin C, phosphorous and calcium, which help to develop strong bones, teeth and skin, Considered as a health fruit it is supposed to prevent colon cancer, diabetes, and neutralises toxic substances like heavy metals. It is also used to reduce cholestrol and high BP. As food item, its flower buds are used in making soups, or mixed in salads and could also be eaten as a vegetable. Some times tea is also made from its flowers.

- Narasipur Char