Vegetative growth and flowering of dragon fruit species according to branch pruning management and application of superabsorbent polymer

The cultivation of dragon fruit has been standing out considerably in Brazil, however, although on the rise, information onthe cultivation of this fruit, such as pruning management in young orchards and the use of superabsorbent polymer in thecrop, is scarce. In this sense, in order to remedy producers’ obstacles regarding the management of orchard formation, theobjective of this study was to evaluate the influence of pruning management and the efficiency of hydrogel in the vegetativeand reproductive development in two different species of dragon fruit (Selenicereus undatus and Hylocereus polyrhizus),in addition to defining the best dose of the polymer to be used in the crop. The work was developed at IFSULDEMINAS –Machado Campus. The design used was the randomized block design, in a factorial scheme (2x2x3), the first factor beingcomposed of the two species of dragon fruit, the second, by two cladode pruning levels (with and without pruning), and thethird, by three doses of the superabsorbent polymer Hydroplan-EB® (0; 1.5; 4.5 g plant-1). The following characteristicswere evaluated: number and length of shoots; total number of flowers; total number of fruits; number of aborted flowers;picking percentage; mean fruit mass; longitudinal and transverse diameter of fruits; peel thickness; pulp yield; peel massand productivity. The practice of cladode pruning, as well as the application of the superabsorbent polymer, did not influencemost of the characteristics evaluated. Further studies should be conducted to delve deeper into the management techniquesused in this study.