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Archives
July 1-31, 2002
The exotic dragonfruit: A
hot new fruit
by Junelyn S. de la Rosa
 Big,
bright red things with interesting flaps and folds in
the skin, like some kind of ornamental chinese lantern-
is the dragonfruit (Hylocereus undatus). It first caught
my eye at a local supermarket a week ago. I was not
the only one hovering over the bizarre-looking fruits-
at least four other people were smelling and touching
them.
Priced at P120-150 a kilo, this fruit
is fast becoming a hot new item in the market. A sure
profit giver, scientists from the Institute of Plant
Breeding (IPB) are encouraging farmers to plant dragonfruit
in their backyards.
I learned that the dragonfruit is a climbing
cactus whose fragrant white flowers bloom at night.
In fact, it is popular as an ornamental in Hawaii and
is called Queen of the Night, Moonflower or Lady of
the Night because of its magnificent bell-shaped flowers.
Like other fruits, the dragonfruit or
strawberry pear is very nutritious. It contains minerals,
vitamins, and dietary fiber. It lessens cholesterol
and is good for people with diabetes.
The ripe strawberry pear is found delicious,
especially if chilled and cut in half so that the flesh
can be eaten with a spoon. The juice is enjoyed as a
cool drink. A syrup made from the whole fruit is used
to color pastries and candy. The unopened flowerbud
can be cooked and eaten as a vegetable.
Dragonfruit is also medicinal- the sap
of its stems can be used as a vermifuge or dewormer
but it is said to be caustic and hazardous. The air-dried,
powdered stems contain B-sitosterol which is 30 times
more effective than choline in breaking down cholesterol.
The dragonfruit plants can be cultivated
using seeds, cuttings and pieces. They are easy to grow
and maintain provided they are not overwatered. Like
other cacti, they thrive best in well-drained soils
such as sand and perlite and bloom best under full sunshine.
To cultivate the plant, stem cuttings
can be prepared from plants that are 1/2 to 1 1/2 meter
long. Then, these cuttings are stored in a dark area
for a week before they are planted in plastic bags filled
with a mixture of soil, manure and burnt rice hulls.
When the seedlings are big enough, they
can be transplanted to a 30-cm thick plot with a wooden
trellis for the them to climb on. They can also be allowed
to climb a tree or a wall like other vines or scrambling
plants.
Other pointers that are useful are: 1)
Plant them in areas that are not infested with ants,
2) Make sure that the plants get enough sunlight 3)
Let the branches hang to enhance flowering and 4) Avoid
overwatering and letting the soil dry in between waterings,
and, 5) Indoors-place them in full sunshine, outdoors-
place them them in a partially shaded area. And if the
leaves develop "burned" spots, give them more
shade.
Recently, the dragonfruit has already
made its way into the European market and latest figures
show cacti fruit sales are soaring across the world.
Although consumers are sometimes skeptical, there is
a market for new exotic fruits. Farmers can augment
their income by planting special crops like these in
their backyard or in their farms.
Source: Pagtatanim ng Dragon Fruit by
Drs. Rodel Maghirang, Gloria Rodulfo and Eufemio Rasco
Jr., Special Crops Project-Vegetable Division, Institute
of Plant Breeding, College of Agriculture, UP Los Baños
at Telephone No. 049-536-3304 loc 217 and E-mail: rgm2000@yahoo.com
July 1-31 2002 Articles: ::
The Philippines is host to 2002 CGIAR AGM
::
RDE networks gear for better resource allocation
::
Ponce calls on scientists to reflect on their impact in society
::
UPLB scientists introduce biological approach to increase yield in veggies
::
Make profits from sea urchin culture
::
Bt corn: the saga continues
::
The exotic dragonfruit: A hot new fruit
::
ERP provides insights on poverty
::: More July 2002 articles :::
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