Studies on the influence of IBA and different growing media on growth of root in dragon fruit [Hylocereus undatus L.]

Introduction

Dragon fruit (Hylocereus undatus L.) having diploid chromosome (2n = 22), which belongs to the Cactaceae family, is esteemed for its distinctive attributes. Originating from tropical forest region of Mexico and Central and South America (Mizrahi, 2014) [23] , this graceful perennial thrives in countries like Vietnam, Nicaragua, Mexico and Colombia (Le Bellec et al., 2006) [17] . Dragon fruit is grown in the Indian states of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu, although the total area under cultivation is less than 100 acres (Dhruve et al., 2018) [7] , affectionately known as "KAMALAM" due to its lotuslike appearance. Each 100 grams of fruit provides essential nutrients like calcium (8.5 mg), vitamin C (20.5 mg) and phosphorus (22.5 mg). Beyond nutrition, dragon fruit is prized for its medicinal properties, antioxidants (Vaillant et al., 2005) [32] and significant economic impact in food processing. Dragon fruit is a promising crop for arid regions (Vaillant et al., 2005) [32] , characterized by a Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM) pathway that enhances water-use efficiency (Cushman, 2005) [6] . It requires minimal input, low maintenance and is resistant to pests and diseases. In India, approximately 95% of dragon fruit demand is met through imports due to limited local cultivation, concentrated in a few regions (Maji, 2019) [18] . To increase domestic production, the development of new orchards and rapid propagation of quality planting material are crucial (Kumar et al., 2022) [15] . While traditionally propagated by seeds and stem cuttings, seed propagation presents challenges such as variability from cross-pollination and extended juvenile stages. Current seed methods struggle to meet market demand (Gunasena et al., 2006) [11] .

In contrast, vegetative propagation ensures uniformity and rapid production of true-to-type plants, making it ideal for commercial cultivation. Moreover, using cuttings for propagation leads to earlier fruit production (Merten, 2003) [22] . Rooting varies by dragon fruit species, some rooting naturally while others require auxin treatment (Blythe et al., 2004; Rahad et al., 2016; Chhetri et al., 2021) [4,27,5] . Additionally, the choice of growing media significantly influences nutrient availability, crucial for healthy plant growth. IBA promotes root formation in dragon fruit cuttings by enhancing cell division and stimulating ethylene production, improving rooting success (Saini and Anmol, 2024) [30] . Studies have shown IBA concentrations from 100 ppm to 10,000 ppm enhance rooting in various crops ( [31,19,21,25] . This study was conducted in the subtropical climate of Jobner, Rajasthan, aims to assess its effect on root development. The selection of appropriate rooting media is essential for successful propagation ((El Obeidy, 2006) [8] . Organic and synthetic media like compost, peat and coconut coir are preferred over soil due to better water retention and reduced loss (Gruda, 2019) [10] . Ideal media should contain 10-30 percent organic matter and be sterile (Yilmaz et al., 2018; Romano et al., 2020) [33,29] . With limited topsoil availability, mixed organic media offer improved aeration, water retention, and nutrient availability, leading to higher success rates (Rashmita et [28, 24, 19, 12] . Kumar et al., 2015 [16] and Maurya et al., 2022 [20] in lemon and Khandaker et al., 2022 [13] reported in wax apple In Rajasthan, as dragon fruit cultivation expands, there's limited data on ideal IBA concentrations and growing media. This study aims to clarify their impact on robust plant development, crucial for informed farming decisions and future cultivation expansion.

Materials and Methods

The experiment was conducted during August, 2021-November, 2021 at Department of Horticulture, S.K.N. College of Agriculture (Sri Karan Narendra Agriculture University) Jobner, Rajasthan, India. The experimental site was situated at 26˚ 5' N, 75˚ 28' E, 426 meters above sea level, in the Semi-Arid Eastern Plain Zone (agroclimatic zone III-A). The experiment employed a Factorial Complete Randomized Design (FCRD) with 16 treatments. These treatments combined different doses of Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) (G 0 -Control, G 1 -IBA @ 2000 ppm, G 2 -IBA @ 4000 ppm and G 3 -IBA @ 6000 ppm) and varied compositions of growing media (M 0 -Control, M 1 -Sand: Cocopeat 1:1, M 2 -Sand: Vermicompost 1:1, M 3 -Sand: Vermicompost: Cocopeat 1:1:1). Each treatment used 30 stem cuttings from the Pink to White genotype, each with 4-5 nodes, sourced from the dragon fruit block at SKNCOA, Jobner. Cuttings were immersed in respective IBA solutions for 2 minutes and control in distilled water before planting in polyethylene bags of 20X8.5 cm filled with specific media compositions adjusted to three-quarters capacity. The study recorded parameters such as days to root initiation,% of rooted cuttings at 75 days (calculated as rooted cuttings/total planted × 100), length of longest root (from initiation to tip, averaged in cm), root length (measured from base to tip, averaged in cm), average number of roots were observed at 25, 50 and 75 days, root diameter, fresh and dry weight of root (g) at 75 days (after drying at 65 °C). The data under ANOVA for Factorial Complete Randomized Designs (Fisher and Yates, 1963) [9] .

Results and Discussion

Dragon fruit rooting behaviour was investigated in relation to varying IBA concentrations (control, 2000, 4000 and 6000 ppm) and growing media (control, sand: cocopeat, sand: vermicompost and sand: vermicompost: cocopeat). Tables 1, 2 and graph display the acquired results.

Effect of IBA on root parameters

The data presented (Table 1 and2) in the investigation indicated that application of IBA @ 6000 ppm was significantly favourable for root parameters i.e., initiated root formation 7.17 days earlier,% of rooted cutting (85.88), 42.86% increase in length of longest root (cm), average root length cutting -1 (13.52 cm), average number of roots cuttings -1 (22.15), 35.50% increase in the roots' diameter (mm) and root weight (fresh and dry) over the control. These positive effects on root development were likely attributable to IBA's influence on dragon fruit, which sensitively responded to its application. Higher concentrations of IBA stimulated mature parenchyma cells to re-differentiate into cambial tissue and facilitated rapid hydrolysis of stored carbohydrates in stem cuttings, providing necessary nutrients for cambial tissue. Optimal IBA concentrations also stimulated the mobilization and utilization of nitrogen and carbohydrates, supported by cofactors at the wounded site, thereby enhancing root initiation. This process accelerated cell division and elongation in cambial tissue, contributing to early root formation, longer roots cutting -1 , increased adventitious roots and higher root biomass. These outcomes confirmed with con earlier studies on dragon fruit (Seran and Thiresh, 2015; Rahad et al., 2016 and Chhetri et al., 2021) [31,27,5] .

Effect of growing media on root parameters

Significant improvements in root parameters were observed when dragon fruit cuttings were propagated in a growing medium consisting of sand, vermicompost, and cocopeat in equal proportions (1:1:1). This medium outperformed both the control and a mixture of sand and vermicompost (1:1), yielding higher values for root initiation (7.26 days earlier),% of rooted cuttings (85.81%), 40.54% increase in longest root's length (cm), average root length cutting -1 (13.28 cm), average number of roots cutting -1 (22.16), root diameter (mm), fresh and dry root weight (g). Vermicompost, a nutrient-rich soil produced through earthworm activity, was integral to organic farming. It included 'teas' a wastewater enriched with essential plant nutrients and growth hormones (Arancon et al., 2020) [2] that promoted rooting in cuttings. Vermicompost improved soil's physical, biological and chemical characteristics (Norman et al., 2005) [26] , boasting higher levels of nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus compared to other media, thereby facilitating microbial activity and nutrient absorption across the root surface. This resulted in enhanced root formation, increased accumulation of nutrients, longer roots and altered amino acid metabolism during root regeneration. Cocopeat, renowned for its chemical properties including high phosphorus, potassium, moderate electrical conductivity and pH (Abad et al., 2002) [1] , was a favoured growth medium component. Its compatibility with other substrates (Bhattacharjee, 2006) [3] made it versatile. Knight (1926) [14] identified sand as an optimal medium for rooting in certain fruit crops due to its cost-effectiveness stemming from excellent drainage and aeration properties. These findings aligned with studies of Malik et al., 2023 [19] and Ingole et al., 2024 [12] in dragon fruit plant.

Interactive effect IBA and growing media

The interactive effect was also found significant in terms of length of root cuttings -1 at 25, 50 and 75 days after planting as shown in Table 3. The treatment combination G 3 M 3 showed significantly higher length of root over other treatment combinations (Plate 1). Kumar et al. (2015) [16] reported that lemon cuttings treated with 800 ppm IBA and grown in a mix of garden soil, sand, and vermicompost (1:1:1) exhibited enhanced root length. This result aligned with the findings of Khandaker et al. (2022) [13] in wax apple and Kumar et al. (2015) [16] and Maurya et al. (2022) [20] in lemon.

Conclusion

Based on the findings, cuttings treated with 6000 ppm of IBA and grown in sand, vermicompost and cocopeat (1:1:1 ratio) exhibited significantly superior root parameters compared to other treatment combinations, except for G 2 M 2 (IBA @ 4000 ppm + sand: vermicompost), which showed comparable results. This combination was recommended for dragon fruit propagation.

Acknowledgement

AcknowledgmentsThe authors acknowledged the Department of Horticulture S.K.N. College of Agriculture (SKNAU) Jobner Rajasthan, India, for their invaluable support and provision of facilities during this research.

References

1. Abad M, Noguera P, Puchades R, Maquieira A, Noguera V. Physico-chemical and chemical properties of some coconut coir dust for use as a peat substitute for containerised ornamental plants. Bioresour Technol. 2002;82(3):241-245.
2. Arancon N, Cleave JV, Hamasaki R, Nagata K, Felts J. The influence of vermicompost water extracts on growth of plants propagated by cuttings. J Plant Nutr. 2020;43(2):176-185.
3. Bhattacharjee SK. Advances in ornamental horticulture: vistas in floriculture. Pointer Publishers; 2006. p. 1-6.
4. Blythe EK, Sibley JL, Ruter JM, Tilt KM. Cutting propagation of foliage crops using a foliar application of auxin. Sci Hortic. 2004;103(1):31-37.
5. Chhetri S, Hasan MA, Tamang A. Influence of varying length of stem cutting and IBA concentrations on root and shoot growth in dragon fruit cv Giant White (Hylocereus undatus). Environ Ecol. 2021;39(4A):1114-1118.
6. Cushman JC. Crassulacean acid metabolism: recent advances and future opportunities. Funct Plant Biol. 2005;32(5):375-380.
7. Dhruve L, Suchitra V, Vani VS, Subbaramamma P, Saravanan L. Rooting and shooting behavior of red and white pulped varieties of dragon fruit (Hylocereus undatus) in relation to indole butyric acid concentrations. Int J Agric Sci. 2018;14(1):229-234.
8. El Obeidy AA. Mass propagation of pitaya (dragon fruit). Fruits. 2006;61(5):313-319.
9. Fisher RA, Yates F. Statistical tables for biological, agricultural and medical research. 6th ed. Oliver and Boyd; 1963.
10. Gruda NS. Increasing sustainability of growing media constituents and stand-alone substrates in soilless culture systems. Agronomy. 2019;9(6):298.
11. Gunasena HPM, Pushpakumara DKNG, Kariyawasam M. Dragon fruit (Hylocereus undatus): field manual for extension workers. Colombo: Sri Lanka Council for Agricultural Policy; 2006.
12. Ingole AD, Raut UA, Mahalle SP, Kumar A. Effect of different soil media on rooting of dragon fruit cuttings. Environ Ecol. 2024;42(1A):271-276.
13. Khandaker MM, Saidi A, Badaluddin NA, Yusoff N, Majrashi A, Alenazi MM, et al. Effects of indole-3butyric acid (IBA) and rooting media on rooting and survival of air layered wax apple (Syzygium samarangense) cv. Jambu Madu. Braz J Biol. 2022;82:256-277.
14. Knight RC. The propagation of fruit tree stocks by stem cuttings. J Pomol Hortic Sci. 1926;5(3):248-266.
15. Kumar A, Kumar A, Tripathi SK, Kumar D, Gangwar V, Veersain, et al. Impact of different vegetative propagation techniques in guava (Psidium guajava L.) cv. Dhawal under Western UP conditions. Biol Forum Int J. 2022;14(3):814-817.
16. Kumar V, Singh MK, Kumar M, Parkash S, Kumar A, Rao S, et al. Effect of different dose of IBA and rooting media on rooting of stem cutting of lemon (Citrus limon Burm.) cv Pant Lemon-1. J Plant Dev Sci. 2015;7(7):587-591.
17. Le Bellec F, Vaillant F, Imbert E. Pitahaya (Hylocereus spp.): a new fruit crop, a market with a future. Fruits. 2006;61(4):237-250.
18. Maji S. Dragon fruit: the super fruit. Book Publisher International; 2019.
19. Malik V, Joseph AV, Rana S, Singh K. Effect of organic manures and IBA on shoot growth and survival of dragon fruit (Hylocereus polyrhizus) cuttings. Ecol Environ Conserv. 2023;29:94-98.
20. Maurya P, Mukhim C, Prasad K, Majaw T, Kumar U, Agnihotri R, et al. Influence of season, indole-3-butyric acid and media on rooting and success of single leafbud cutting of lemon (Citrus limon Burm.). Scientist. 2022;1(3):459-469.
21. Meena PK, Maji S, Ali M. Augmentation of rooting and shooting in stem cuttings of dragon fruit (Hylocereus costaricensis). Indian J Ecol. 2023;50(2):404-407.
22. Merten S. A review of Hylocereus production in the United States. J Prof Assoc Cactus Dev. 2003;5:98-105.
23. Mizrahi Y. Vine-cacti pitayas: the new crops of the world. Rev Bras Frutic. 2014;36(1):124-138.
24. Mubarok SK, Kusumiyati I, Muhardiono A, Yuniarti, Rosniawati S, Suminar E. Improvement of soil chemical properties of Typic Hapludult after application of organic and inorganic fertilizers. J Trop Soils. 2017;22(3):131-137.
25. Nale R, Sharma G, Pal R, Patel RK, Sharma S. Effect of IBA and NAA on rooting and vegetative growth of hardwood cuttings in common fig (Ficus carica L.). Int J Bioresour Stress Manag. 2024;15(5):1-6.
26. Norman Q, Arancon, Edwards CA. Effects of vermicompost on plant growth. In: Proc Int Symp Workshop on Vermitechnologies for Developing Countries; Los Banos, Philippines; 2005. p. 1-25.
27. Rahad MK, Islam MA, Rahim MA, Monira S. Effects of rooting media and varieties on rooting performance of dragon fruit (Hylocereus undatus Haw.) cuttings. Res Agric Livest Fish. 2016;3(1):67-77.
28. Rashmita SM, Tudu S, Shanker K. Effect of different media on rooting and survival of pear (Pyrus pyrifolia L.) cuttings cv. Patharnakh. Int J Bioresour Stress Manag. 2016;7(4):636-640.
29. Romano I, Ventorino V, Pepe O. Effectiveness of plant beneficial microbes: overview of methodological approaches for assessment of root colonization and persistence. Front Plant Sci. 2020;11:1-6.
30. Saini N, Anmol. The potential of plant growth regulator (auxin) in enhancing fruit crop propagation via stem cuttings. Int J Adv Biochem Res. 2024;8(5):1001-1007.
31. Seran TH, Thiresh A. Root and shoot growth of dragon fruit (Hylocereus undatus) stem cutting as influenced by IBA. Agric Biol Sci J. 2015;1(2):27-30.
32. Vaillant F, Perez A, Davila I, Dornier M, Reynes M. Colorant and antioxidant properties of red pitahaya (Hylocereus sp.). Fruits. 2005;60(1):3-12.
33. Yilmaz D, Cannavo P, Séré G, Vidal-Beaudet L, Legret M, Damas O, Peyneau PE. Physical properties of structural soils containing waste materials to achieve urban greening. J Soils Sediments. 2018;18:442-455.