PERFORMANCE OF DIFFERENT GROWING CONDITIONS AND LENGTH OF CUTTINGS ON BIOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS OF DRAGON FRUIT (HYLOCEREUS UNDATUS) SAPLINGS

Abstract

Dragon fruit is getting wider popularity among the farmers and researchers as well. Due to high value benefits many farmers are cultivating this crop. This increasing demand of these fruit necessitates more advanced research on its better establishment. By keeping this in consideration, an investigation was taken to evaluate planted saplings under abiotic stresses for success and standardizing the growing conditions and length of cuttings. The results indicated that, the data on biochemical parameters at 50 days after first shoot initiation, the maximum shoot moisture content (79.33%) and total chlorophyll content (6.90 mg g-1) was recorded in shade net condition, whereas highest protein content (0.25 mg g-1), phenol content (44.47 mg g-1), proline content (49.92  g-1) and total sugars (5.86%) were recorded in the open field condition. However, the 35 cm length of cuttings exhibited highest total chlorophyll content (6.13 mg g-1) and total sugar content (5.88%), whereas maximum protein content (0.25 mg g-1), total phenol content (39.70 mg g-1) and proline content (46.51 g-1) was recorded in 45 cm length of cuttings. Therefore, treatment combination shade net condition with 35cm length of cuttings has reduced the abiotic stress as compared to other treatments at 50 days intervals after first shoot initiation so, shade net condition with 35 cm length of cuttings performed better under abiotic stresses.