Vegetative and reproductive phenology of dragon fruit in West Garo Hills of Meghalaya

Dragon fruit, belonging to family Cactaceae, is a highly resilient fruit crop with high nutritional profile and commercial prospects. Although West Garo Hills offers favourable conditions for growing dragon fruit, there is a dearth of phenological information in the region. Therefore, the vegetative and reproductive phenology of two species of dragon fruit (Hylocereus polyrhizus and Hylocereus undatus) were studied in the West Garo Hills of Meghalaya from 2023 to 2025 using the extended BBCH (Biologische Bundesantalt, Bundessortenamt and Chemische Industrie). Major vegetative flush occurred from November to May after the completion of fruiting. The total time required for completion of vegetative flush starting from vegetative bud swelling (011) to completion of side shoot development (419) was 77.68±13.85 days in H. polyrhizus and 88.19±12.31 days in H. undatus. Reproductive phase was observed in six to seven flushes in H. polyrhizus (early May to early December), compared to five flushes in H. undatus (late May to early December). H. polyrhizus completed reproductive bud development (510-519) in 18.10±1.70 days, flowering (610-619) in 2.02±0.18 days, fruit development (711-719) in 19.46±1.80 days and fruit maturation (811-817) in 4.75±0.61 days, totalling to 49.89±2.61 days for a complete reproductive cycle (510-817). Whereas H. undatus required 16.50±1.02 days for reproductive bud development (510-519), 2.01±0.10 days for flowering (610-619), 20.70±2.16 days for fruit development (711-719) and 4.59±0.89 days for fruit maturation (811-817), accounting to a total of 50.32±2.63 days cycle (510-817). H. polyrhizus produced greater number of reproductive flushes with longer fruiting period and took lesser time for completion of vegetative and reproductive flush. Phenological studies of dragon fruit will be useful in various crop management practices and post-harvest planning. The findings have significant implications for future research, popularization and commercialization.