Evaluation of Self-incompatibility on Fruit Set and Yield Parameters of Dragon Fruit (Hylocereus spp.: Fam. Cactaceae)

The study on evaluation of self-incompatibility in two types of dragon fruit viz., Vietnam royal white, Hylocereus undatus (Haw.) Britton and Rose and Vietnam royal pink, Hylocereus polyrhizus (Haw.) Britton and Rose was carried out on fruit yield parameters during 2021-22. The treatments viz., hand cross-pollination of flower with pollen of same flower, pollen from other flower of same plant, pollen from flower of other plant and pollen from H. polyrhizus to H. undatus and vice-versa was compatible resulting in 100 per cent fruit set in both the types of dragon fruit. The fruit weight, pulp weight, peel weight, test weight, ash content and TSS of the fruits varied among treatments with a maximum when flowers of H. undatus was hand cross-pollinated with pollen from flowers of H. polyrhizus. Therefore, efficient pollination could be achieved by cross pollination of compatible clones. Hence, to avoid low fruit weight, mixed plantings with H. polyrhizus in H. undatus is recommended.