Department of Botany, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur, Pakistan.
Department of Botany, University of Chakwal, Chakwal, Pakistan.
BMC Plant Biol. 2024 Jun 12;24(1):533. doi: 10.1186/s12870-024-05247-6.
Dragon fruit (Selenicereus undatus), known for its captivating appearance and remarkable nutritional profile, has garnered considerable attention in recent years. Despite its popularity, there's a dearth of research on optimal conditions for seed germination and early growth stages such as seedling shoot length, which are crucial for optimal crop yield. This study aims to bridge this gap by evaluating various growing media's performance on dragon fruit germination and early growth stages. Dragon fruit seeds were obtained from local markets in Pakistan and evaluated in five different growing media: cocopeat, peat moss, sand, vermiculite, and compost. Germination parameters were observed for 45 days, including seed germination percentage, mean germination time, and mean daily germination percentage, among others while early growth was monitored for 240 days. Statistical analysis was conducted using ANOVA and Tukey's HSD test. Significant differences were found among the growing media regarding germination percentage, mean germination time, and mean daily germination. Vermiculite exhibited the highest germination rate (93.33%), while compost showed the least (70%). Peat moss and sand media facilitated rapid germination, while compost showed slower rates. Stem length was significantly influenced by the growth media, with compost supporting the longest stems. Vermiculite emerged as the most effective medium for dragon fruit seed germination, while compost showed slower but steady growth. These findings provide valuable insights for optimizing dragon fruit cultivation, aiding commercial growers and enthusiasts in achieving higher yields and quality. Further research could explore additional factors influencing dragon fruit growth and development.
火龙果（Selenicereus undatus）以其迷人的外观和显著的营养成分而备受关注，近年来引起了广泛关注。尽管它很受欢迎，但对于种子发芽和幼苗生长阶段（如苗茎长度）等最佳条件的研究却很少，而这些条件对最佳作物产量至关重要。本研究旨在通过评估火龙果种子在五种不同生长介质中的发芽和早期生长阶段来填补这一空白：椰糠、泥炭藓、沙子、蛭石和堆肥。观察了 45 天的发芽参数，包括种子发芽率、平均发芽时间和平均日发芽率等，同时监测了 240 天的早期生长情况。使用方差分析和 Tukey 的 HSD 检验进行了统计分析。在发芽率、平均发芽时间和平均日发芽率等方面，不同生长介质之间存在显著差异。蛭石表现出最高的发芽率（93.33%），而堆肥表现出最低的发芽率（70%）。泥炭藓和沙子介质促进了快速发芽，而堆肥则显示出较慢的发芽速度。茎长受到生长介质的显著影响，堆肥支持最长的茎。蛭石是火龙果种子发芽最有效的介质，而堆肥则显示出较慢但稳定的生长。这些发现为优化火龙果种植提供了有价值的见解，有助于商业种植者和爱好者实现更高的产量和质量。进一步的研究可以探索影响火龙果生长和发育的其他因素。
