FLORAÇÃO DE PITAYA NO CERRADO COM A APLICAÇÃO DE REGULADORES DE CRESCIMENTO NO FINAL DA ENTRESSAFRA

Abstract

Flowering of pitaya in the Cerrado (Brazilian Savannah) biome with the application of growth regulators at the end of the off-season. Advisor: Prof. Dr. Sousa, Cleiton Mateus. The cultivation of pitaya has increased in Brazil. However, , which causes wide price fluctuation in the market. The cultivated varieties have period of long days, and production concentrates from November to May. There are not yet strategies to scale up its production in Brazil. In some countries, artificial lighting supplementation is used to scale up production. On the other hand, the use of growth regulators allows to control flowering under non-inductive natural conditions. Thus, understanding the action of gibberellin on pitaya flowering can significantly contribute to develop management strategies to scale pitaya fruiting in the Cerrado (Brazilian Savannah) of Goiás State, Brazil. Assim, avaliou-se os efeitos da aplicação de GA3 e paclobutrazol no final da entressafra sobre a floração e a frutificação da pitaya. Therefore, the effects of applying GA3 and paclobutrazol at the end of the off-season on pitaya flowering and fruiting were evaluated. Paclobutrazol completely inhibited pitaya fruiting, showing a prolonged residual effect, as the plants did not flower in the harvest period. Regarding the use of GA3, new studies are needed on the form, timing, and application dose to obtain better responses in scaling pitaya fruiting. Keywords: Dragon fruit. Growth regulators. Seasonality.