Supplementary manual pollination: a potential technology to enhance the yield and quality in white fleshed dragon fruit variety

In India, during the initial period of dragon fruit introduction, white fleshed variety was planted in large acreage. However, the yield of this variety was very low, since it bears a greater proportion of smaller fruits. The supplementary manual self- and cross-pollinations enhanced fruit size up to 30 (321 g) and 82% (452 g), respectively, compared to natural pollination (247 g). Consequently, an additional yield of 3.0 (33%) and 9.0 tons (100%) per acre can be expected if manual self- and cross-pollinations adopted, respectively, over and above the actual yield of natural pollination (8–10 tons per acre). Hence, supplementary pollination can potentially enhance the yield up to 18 tons per acre, besides improving the fruit quality. The present study findings bring hope to farmers who planted the white dragon fruit variety and improve their livelihood by doubling their income.