Crescimento, estado nutricional de cladódios e acúmulo de nutrientes em frutos de pitaya sob condições edafoclimáticas de Fortaleza - CE

Abstract

The expansion of pitaya cultivation areas in Brazil demands technical information on the agronomic behavior of new genetic materials under different edaphoclimatic conditions. This study aimed to evaluate plant growth, nutritional status, and nutrient accumulation in fruits of pitaya genotypes cultivated under the conditions of Fortaleza, Ceará. The experiment was conducted from October 2023 to October 2025 in the agricultural sector of the Federal University of Ceará, Pici Campus. The experimental design adopted was a randomized block design, with six treatments, six replications, and two plants per plot, totaling 72 plants. The treatments consisted of five pitaya genotypes developed by Embrapa: BRS Âmbar do Cerrado, BRS Granada do Cerrado, BRS Lua do Cerrado, BRS Luz do Cerrado, and BRS Minipitaya do Cerrado, in addition to the ‘Costa Rica’ genotype. Biometric variables of vegetative growth were analyzed at 16 and 24 months after transplanting (MAT), the nutrient contents in the cladodes were evaluated, and for the genotypes that reached the reproductive stage, physical characterization and nutrient accumulation in the fruits were performed. It was verified that the BRS Granada do Cerrado genotype presented greater vegetative vigor, with higher total cladode length and number, evidencing better local adaptability. In contrast, the BRS Âmbar do Cerrado and BRS Minipitaya do Cerrado genotypes presented the worst vegetative performance. Regarding nutritional status, N and P contents in the cladodes did not differ among the genotypes; however, a significant reduction in K contents was observed in the materials during the reproductive phase, indicating remobilization of nutrients to the fruits. Only BRS Granada do Cerrado and Costa Rica fruited, presenting the same order of macronutrient accumulation in the fruits: K > N > Ca > P > Mg > S > and the element Na. For micronutrients, the following accumulation was observed: B > Fe > Zn > Mn > Cu in BRS Granada do Cerrado and B > Zn > Fe > Mn > Cu in Costa Rica. It is concluded that ‘BRS Granada do Cerrado’ gathers the best characteristics of vigor and productive precocity for the region, resembling the commercial variety Costa Rica, while BRS Âmbar do Cerrado and BRS Minipitaya do Cerrado demonstrate severe limitations in establishment.