In vitro propagation and rooting strategies for <i>Hylocereus undatus</i> and <i>Hylocereus polyrhizus</i>

In vitro micropropagation protocols for Hylocereus undatus and Hylocereus polyrhizus pitaya species were developed in Murashige and Skoog (MS) and Lloyd and McCown (WPM) nutrient media. During micropropagation stage, 0, 3, 4, 5, 6 mgL(-1) Benzyl adenine (BA), 0.2 mgL(-1) Gibberellic acid (GA(3)), and 0.1 mgL(-1) Indole butyric acid (IBA) were added to the MS and WPM media. For the rooting stage, 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2 mgL(-1) IBA, 0.5 mgL(-1) Naphthalene acetic acid (NAA), 0.2 mgL(-1) GA(3) and 0.1 mgL(-1) BA were added to the same media. H. undatus reached the highest number of shoots (8.94) in the MS medium containing 3 mgL(-1) BA while H. polyrhizus achieved the highest number of shoots (4.46) in the MS medium containing 5 mgL(-1) BA. The WPM medium (3.08) produced a higher average number of roots compared to the MS medium (2.55). The highest average root number was obtained from 0.5 mgL(-1) IBA concentration, followed by 2 mgL(-1) IBA concentration. H. polyrhizus (51.63 mm) had a higher average root length than H. undatus (49.59 mm). The MS medium (51.22 mm) was more effective in promoting average root length compared to the WPM medium (49.99 mm). The highest average shoot fresh weight (1183.33 mg) and shoot dry weight (106.00 mg) were obtained from H. undatus in the WPM medium containing 2.0 mgL(-1) IBA. H. polyrhizus (399.97 mg) had a higher average root fresh weight than H. undatus (275.60 mg) with the 2 mgL(-1) of IBA concentration yielding the highest average value (604.83 mg). H. polyrhizus (35.93 mg), the WPM medium (38.30 mg), and 2 mgL(-1) of IBA concentration (49.75 mg) resulted in a higher average root dry weight.