Determination of the effects of bumblebee (Bombus terrestris), hand, and natural pollination on fruit set, yield, and quality in pitaya (Hylocereus spp.) cultivation under subtropical conditions

Pollination plays a key role in determining fruit set, yield, and fruit quality, particularly in regions outside the crop’s native habitat where natural pollinators may be insufficient. Commercial pitaya (Hylocereus spp.) production in Türkiye is still in its early stages, and information regarding its pollination biology and fruiting behavior under local conditions is limited. Therefore, identifying effective pollination strategies for different pitaya cultivars is essential for successful commercial production. This study aimed to examine the effects of natural pollination, bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) pollination, and hand pollination on fruit set, fruit physical characteristics, and selected quality parameters in two pitaya cultivars, White Jaina (Hylocereus undatus) and Red Jaina (Hylocereus polyrhizus), grown under Türkiye conditions. In the White Jaina cultivar, fruit set percentage was 60.00% under natural pollination, 50.0% under bumblebee pollination, and 50.0% with hand pollination. Among the treatments, hand pollination resulted in the highest fruit weight, reaching 328.30 g, which was statistically significant. In contrast, the Red Jaina cultivar showed a markedly low fruit set percentage under natural pollination (14.30%), while hand pollination substantially increased fruit set percentage to 77.40%. No fruit set was observed in Red Jaina following bumblebee pollination. Hand pollination also significantly improved fruit weight in this cultivar, increasing it from 40.64 g under natural pollination to 164.70 g. The results reveal distinct cultivar-specific differences in pollination requirements in pitaya. The white jaina cultivar exhibited self-compatiblity, achieving moderate fruit set under natural conditions, although hand pollination improved fruit weight. In contrast, the Red Jaina cultivar was self-incompatible and dependent on hand pollination to achieve fruit set and yield. Under the conditions of this study, bumblebee pollination was found to be ineffective in both cultivars. These findings highlight the importance of selecting appropriate pollination methods consdiering the cultivar characteristics and provide valuable guidance for the development of commercial pitaya production in Türkiye.