ABSTRACT Increasing orchard productivity is among the main objectives of pitaya producers. However, the commercial productivity may reduce due to reduction of fruit size as a function of the high amount per plant. This study evaluated the influence of the number of fruit per cladode in commercial productivity and in quality of fruits of two pitaya species at different harvest times. The experiment was carried out in a six-year-old orchard formed by the species Selenicereus undatus and Hylocereus polyrhizus. At each flowering time, the number of fruits set per cladode was counted and plants with two, four, five and six fruits per cladode were selected, and surplus fruits removed. The evaluations followed a split plot design over time, with the main plot as the number of fruit per cladode and the subplot as the harvest seasons: December, February and March, with four replicates and one plant per plot. Plants grown with two fruits per cladode presented the highest percentage of fruits with commercial size and commercial productivity. Both species showed fruits with commercial size in the first harvest of the cycle (December). S. undatus fruits classified as Class I and H. polyrhizus fruits classified as Extra and Class I showed the best quality.

Resumo: O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito da poda e do tipo de sistema de condução sobre o desempenho agronômico do cultivo perene de fisalis (Physalis peruviana), em regiões de clima tropical de altitude e temperado úmido no Sudeste brasileiro. Os experimentos foram realizados nos municípios de Diamantina (clima temperado úmido) e Couto de Magalhães de Minas (clima tropical de altitude), ambos no estado de Minas Gerais, em dois ciclos (2017/2018 e 2018/2019). No primeiro ciclo, foram avaliados dois tipos de sistema de condução, um com poda de formação para definir o número de hastes para condução em espaldeira e outro livre (sem poda e espaldeira). No segundo ciclo, avaliou-se a poda de renovação em cada sistema de condução. O cultivo de fisalis em regiões de clima temperado úmido, com temperaturas amenas, favorece produções altas e frutos grandes. O sistema de condução em espaldeira com poda de formação facilita o manejo das plantas e aumenta a produtividade. A viabilidade do cultivo perene de fisalis varia de acordo com as condições climáticas do local de cultivo e o sistema de condução adotado.

Abstract: The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of pruning and training system type on the agronomic performance of the perennial cultivation of physalis (Physalis peruviana), in high-altitude tropical and humid temperate regions in Southeastern Brazil. The experiments were carried out in the municipalities of Diamantina (humid temperate climate) and Couto de Magalhães de Minas (high-altitude tropical climate), both in the state of Minas Gerais, in two cycles (2017/2018 and 2018/2019). In the first cycle, two types of training system were evaluated, one with formation pruning to define the number of stems for espalier training and the other free (without pruning and espalier). In the second cycle, renewal pruning was evaluated in each training system. Physalis cultivation in regions with humid temperate climate and mild temperatures favors high yields and large fruits. The training system in espalier with formation pruning facilitates plant management and increases productivity. The viability of the perennial cultivation of physalis varies according to the climatic conditions of the cultivation site and to the training system adopted.

Resumo O objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar doses adequadas de nitrogênio para alcançar produtividade, qualidade das frutas e teor de nutrientes satisfatórios em cladódios de três espécies de pitaia. O delineamento experimental foi feito em blocos ao acaso, com arranjo fatorial 3×4. Os tratamentos consistiram das seguintes espécies de pitaia e doses de N: Selenicereus megalanthus, Hylocereus undatus e Hylocereus polyrhizus; e 0, 50, 100 e 200 g de N por planta, no primeiro ciclo de produção (safra 2016/2017) e 50, 100, 200 e 300 g de N por planta, no segundo e terceiro ciclos de produção (safras 2017/2018 e 2018/2019). A fertilização com N aumentou a produtividade, a qualidade das frutas e o teor de nutrientes nos cladódios das espécies. No terceiro ciclo de produção, a produtividade foi de 1,18 Mg ha-1 para S. megalanthus, 10,87 Mg ha-1 para H. undatus e 10,4 Mg ha-1 para H. polyrhizus em polinização aberta. A maior produtividade é obtida com 300 g de N por planta para S. megalanthus. Para H. polyrhizus e H. undatus, as doses são de 170 a 190 g de N por planta, complementadas com P e K.

Abstract The objective of this work was to determine adequate rates of nitrogen to reach satisfactory yield, fruit quality, and cladode nutrient content in three species of pitaya. The experimental design was carried out in randomized complete blocks, with a 3×4 factorial arrangement. The treatments consisted of the following pitaya species and N rates: Selenicereus megalanthus, Hylocereus undatus, and Hylocereus polyrhizus; and 0, 50, 100, and 200 g N per plant, in the first production cycle (2016/2017 crop season) and 50, 100, 200, and 300 g N per plant, in the second and third production cycles (2017/2018 and 2018/2019 crop seasons). Nitrogen fertilization increased the yield, fruit quality, and cladode nutrient content of the species. In the third production cycle, yield was 1.18 Mg ha-1 for S. megalanthus, 10.87 Mg ha-1 for H. undatus, and 10.4 Mg ha-1 for H. polyrhizus in open pollination. The highest yield is obtained with 300 g N per plant for S. megalanthus. For H. polyrhizus and H. undatus the rates are from 170 to 190 g N per plant, supplemented with P and K.

ABSTRACT. Pitaya species cultivation in Brazil is recent, and information on the production of the species Selenicereus megalanthus, known as yellow pitaya, is non-existent because research in the country has focused on the species Hylocereus undatus. The research was carried out with the objective of evaluating the reproductive phenology of the species S. megalanthus, in a high-altitude climate conditions in Brazil. The study orchard of yellow pitaya was located at an altitude of 726 metres, 18º 04' 15" S latitude and 43º 28' 15" W longitude, and has an Aw climate, classified as high-altitude tropical. Phenological evaluations were carried out through visual observations, from the beginning of floral button formation until the end of the fruit harvest, during three production cycles. On each plant, flower buds were marked to determine the time from floral button formation until flower anthesis and from flower fertilisation until fruit ripening. The period of flowering and harvesting of the yellow pitaya was determined according to the phenological stage records. Flowering began in the spring, with successive flowering events until the autumn. The time between floral button formation until anthesis ranged from 46 to 55 days. The time from flower fertilisation until fruit ripening ranged from 96 to 110 days. Fruit harvest began in the summer and ended in winter. The reproductive cycle of S. megalanthus is longer than H. undatus and H. polyrhizus, which are also cultivated in Brazil, ranging from 147 to 166 days from floral button formation to fruit harvest.