International Journal of Molecular Ecology and Conservation, 2025, Vol.15, No.1, 30-43 http://ecoevopublisher.com/index.php/ijmec 30 Case Study Open Access Germplasm Flow and Regional Adaptation of Yellow Pitaya: The Role of Genetic Variation in Cultivation Expansion Zhonggang Li 1, Yeping Han2 1 Tropical Specialty Crops Research Center, Hainan Institute of Tropical Agricultural Resources, Sanya, 572026, Hainan, China 2 Institute of Life Sciences, Jiyang College of Zhejiang A&F University, Zhuji, 311800, Zhejiang, China Corresponding author: yeping.han@jicat.org International Journal of Molecular Ecology and Conservation, 2025, Vol.15, No.1 doi: 10.5376/ijmec.2025.15.0004 Received: 29 Dec., 2024 Accepted: 05 Feb.,2025 Published: 18 Feb., 2025 Copyright © 2025 Li and Han, This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Preferred citation for this article: Li Z.G., and Han Y.P., 2025, Germplasm flow and regional adaptation of yellow pitaya: the role of genetic variation in cultivation expansion, International Journal of Molecular Ecology and Conservation, 15(1): 30-43 (doi: 10.5376/ijmec.2025.15.0004) Abstract Yellow pitaya (yellow dragon fruit, Selenicereus megalanthus) is a tropical fruit crop with high nutritional value and economic potential. This study reviews the origin and domestication process of yellow pitaya, the global flow of germplasm resources, and the role of genetic diversity in regional adaptation and cultivation expansion. Global germplasm dissemination and hybrid breeding have greatly enriched the genetic diversity of yellow pitaya, laying the foundation for adaptability in different ecological regions. This study focused on analyzing the environmental adaptation mechanism of yellow pitaya in its native Mesoamerica, as well as regional adaptation cases in newly introduced areas such as the Indochina Peninsula, and explored the contribution of genetic variation to adaptation to different climates in terms of stress resistance, flowering and fruiting, and growth cycle. In addition, we summarized the progress of adaptive breeding and variety selection of yellow pitaya, and analyzed the main constraints facing the current germplasm utilization (such as self-incompatibility, pest and disease stress, and narrow genetic basis). We also looked forward to the prospect of expanding the opportunities of the yellow pitaya industry by expanding the cultivation area (such as greenhouse cultivation) and strengthening genetic improvement (such as polyploid breeding and molecular breeding). Finally, suggestions were made for future research directions, including the establishment of an international germplasm resource sharing platform, the development of genomic selection and biotechnology applications, etc., to promote the sustainable cultivation and industrial development of yellow pitaya. KeywordsYellow pitaya; Germplasm resources; Genetic diversity; Regional adaptability; Breeding 1 Introduction Yellow pitaya (commonly known as yellow-skinned pitaya) belongs to the genus Pitaya of the Cactaceae family. Its fruit is rich in vitamins, dietary fiber and antioxidants, and has important nutritional value and health benefits (Wang et al., 2019; Lin et al., 2023). As a tropical fruit crop that has emerged in recent years, yellow pitaya has attracted much attention in the global fruit market. In the past decade, the pitaya industry in my country has developed rapidly, with a significant increase in planting area and output, and has become one of the world's largest pitaya producers. The crystal-clear and sweet flesh of the yellow pitaya and the sesame-like black seeds make it very popular in the market. At the same time, its adaptability to cultivation potential has attracted the attention of agricultural departments in various countries. The research and development and cultivation of yellow pitaya involve multiple disciplines, including fruit tree genetic breeding, horticultural cultivation, plant physiological ecology, and pest and disease control. At present, the Chinese yellow pitaya industry is still facing many challenges, such as the narrow genetic basis of varieties, unclear regional adaptability, self-incompatibility affecting yield, and threats from pests and diseases (Luo et al., 2025). In order to solve these problems, in-depth research on the diversity of yellow pitaya germplasm resources and genetic variation is crucial to improve its adaptability and stress resistance. In addition, in the context of global climate change, exploring the feasibility and adaptation mechanism of yellow pitaya cultivation in new regions is also of great practical significance. This study systematically combed the research progress at home and abroad in the past five years, focusing on the origin and domestication of yellow pitaya, germplasm resources and global dissemination, genetic diversity and
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