Effect of Bagging Time on Fruit Yield and Quality of Red Pitaya (Hylocereus spp.) Fruit in Vietnam

Abstract

The study was performed to evaluate the effect of bagging time on fruit yield and quality of red pitaya H14 cultivar from May to August 2017 at Nguyen Binh District, Cao Bang Province, Vietnam. The experiment design was in Randomized Complete Block Design with three replicates, including control (without bagging), bagging fruit after 7 days anthesis, bagging fruit after 15 days anthesis by net screen-green bag (NS-GB) with bag size 320 x 260 mm. The physical, biochemical quality characteristics and damage of the fruits were recorded. The results showed that there was no significance in fruit number and fruit yield, fruit size among treatment by application bagging fruit. Moreover, bagging fruit after 7 days anthesis greatly improved flesh fruit weight, fruit edible rate percentage as well as total soluble solid than the control treatment. Furthermore, bagging fruit after 7 days anthesis markedly reduced 10-20% fruit crack, fruit sunburn, fruit fly and fruit blemished as compared to control treatment. In conclusion bagging fruit after 7 days anthesis had positive effect on enhancing fruit quality (total solube solid increase 15% as compared untreated control) and reduced fruit from insect pest and diseases for red pitaya cultivar under field condition in Cao Bang province, Vietnam.