Accelerated Dragon Fruit Production through Integrated Tissue Culture and Micro-Grafting Techniques.

Abdelzaher, Rania A.E.; Nassar, Said A.; Ashmawy, Emad. M.; Vendrame, Wagner A.

doi:10.21608/hrj.2025.454941

Accelerated Dragon Fruit Production through Integrated Tissue Culture and Micro-Grafting Techniques.

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Tropical Fruit Researches Department, Horticulture Research Institute (HRI), Agricultural Research Center (ARC), Giza- Egypt.

² Environmental Horticulture Departments, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS), University of Florida (UF), Gainesville, Florida, USA.

10.21608/hrj.2025.454941

Abstract

Dragon fruit (Hylocereus spp.) is a high value crop crucial for meeting rising global demand; however, its commercial expansion is hampered by slow propagation, high pathogen susceptibility, and abiotic stresses such as drought and salinity. To address these challenges, we developed an integrated propagation protocol that combines optimized in vitro tissue culture with advanced micro grafting techniques to produce disease free, genetically uniform plantlets with enhanced vigor and resilience. Tissue culture experiments were performed using a meticulously formulated Murashige and Skoog medium (pH 5.7–5.8) supplemented with 7 g/L agar, 30 g/L sucrose, and cytokinins; benzylaminopurine (BAP), metatopolin (MT), and kinetin (KIN) at concentrations ranging from 0.5 to 1.5 mg/L. Notably, treatment with 1.5 mg/L MT yielded 5.8 shoots per explant, promoted 4.5 cm shoot elongation, achieved a 93% survival rate, and reduced emergence time to 8.9 days. Concurrent micro grafting trials paired Palora cv. DF1 (yellow) scions with Vitname white cv. as DF2 (white) and Lisa cv. as DF3 (red) rootstocks high yielding, achieving grafting success rates above 88%. Histological analyses revealed superior vascular reconnection and tissue integration, which translated into enhanced photosynthetic performance (12.5 µmol CO m² s¹) and robust biomass accumulation. This scalable, sustainable protocol not only accelerates propagation and early fruiting but also markedly improves plant vigor and adaptability, offering a robust framework for revolutionizing commercial dragon fruit cultivation in semi arid and tropical regions. Future research will focus on long-term field validation, genetic stability, and economic feasibility.

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