Photosynthetic Pigments and Chlorophyll Fluorescence of White-Fleshed (Hylocereus undatus) and Red-Fleshed (Hylocereus costaricensis) Pitaya Following Foliar Application of Different Mineral Formulations Under Semi-Arid Conditions
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: High air temperatures and intense solar radiation in semi-arid regions may impose thermal and photooxidative challenges on cacti. This study evaluated the physiological responses of white-fleshed (Hylocereus undatus) and red-fleshed (Hylocereus costaricensis) pitaya to foliar application of calcium sources and sunscreens. The experiment used a randomized block design (4 × 2 factorial) and tested four strategies (control, SunGard®, calcium silicate, and Bordeaux mixture) on the two pitaya species. In red-fleshed pitaya, Bordeaux mixture was associated with the highest contents of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll, and carotenoids, with increases of approximately 101.3%, 114.4%, 108.3%, and 99.4%, respectively, relative to the control, while reducing energy dissipation (DI0/RC = 0.42) and increasing the photosynthetic performance index (PIabs) by 62.0%. In contrast, white pitaya showed a marked increase in the quantum yield of dissipation (φD0) and DI0/RC (1.53 with Bordeaux mixture), indicating treatment-dependent changes in excitation-energy partitioning. Maximum photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm) remained high in both species (approx. 0.81–0.84) under calcium silicate and SunGard® treatments. Foliar mineral formulations modified photosynthetic pigment contents and fluorescence responses in a species-dependent manner under semi-arid field conditions; the observed changes do not, by themselves, establish increased thermotolerance. Overall, the foliar formulations elicited distinct species-dependent responses in pigment accumulation, energy dissipation, and PSII photochemical performance under the recorded semi-arid field conditions.
Source: Plants
Authors: Raires Irlenizia da Silva Freire, Agda Malany Forte de Oliveira, Renata Ramayane Torquato Oliveira, David Emanoel Gomes da Silva, Matheus Augusto Silva, Daise Feitoza da Rocha, Joilma Maria de Souza, Elisandra Sampaio de Freitas, Anderson Rodrigo Luciano da Silva, Jéssica Crhistie de Castro Granjeiro Oliveira, Lucas Rodrigues Bezerra da Silva, Adriano do Nascimento Simões, Fred Augusto Lourêdo de Brito, Francisco Vanies da Silva Sá, Vander Mendonça
Language: English
Subfield: Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,258
OpenAlex ID: W7225660472
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