Pitaya from Qinzhou

Pitaya from Qinzhou

　　Pitaya, also known as dragon fruit, with the English name Pitaya, belongs to the genera Hylocereus undatus and Selenicereus megalanthus of the cactus family. It is native to Central America. The main varieties include red-skinned with white flesh, red-skinned with red flesh, and yellow-skinned series, among which the red-skinned with red flesh and yellow-skinned series are considered the best. The fruit, branches, and flowers of pitaya contain a wealth of nutritional and therapeutic compounds, offering unique efficacy in treating coughs and asthma. They also help prevent constipation, support eye health, increase bone density, aid in cell membrane formation, prevent anemia and conditions such as neuritis and angular cheilitis, lower cholesterol, whiten skin and prevent dark spots, detoxify heavy metal poisoning, combat free radicals, prevent age-related diseases, and inhibit tumor growth, among other benefits. Pitaya suffers from few pests and diseases, and can achieve normal nutritional and reproductive growth with little to no need for pesticides or hormones. As a result, pitaya is regarded as an environmentally friendly, green fruit in terms of consumer perception, and also serves as a health-promoting, nutritious food with certain therapeutic properties. It is foreseeable that the pitaya industry will emerge as a new, diversified, market-strong, and sustainable modern agricultural venture.

　　 In 2000, the Qinzhou Pitaya Germplasm Resource Center successfully introduced and cultivated red-skinned with red flesh and yellow-skinned series pitayas. The planted area has now expanded to 1,200 mu, making it the largest pitaya planting and germplasm base in China.