International Journal of Molecular Ecology and Conservation, 2025, Vol.15, No.1, 30-43 http://ecoevopublisher.com/index.php/ijmec 40 9 Expansion of Cultivation Opportunities 9.1 Exploration of untapped genetic resources In addition to traditional tropical regions, some temperate regions have also shown interest in yellow pitaya cultivation. For example, southern European countries along the Mediterranean coast are very suitable for pitaya growth due to hot and dry summers and mild winters. Italy, Spain and other countries have successfully trial-grown pitaya under greenhouses or rain shelters, achieving high yields and quality. Studies have shown that the efficient use of water by yellow pitaya makes it competitive in water-scarce Mediterranean agriculture (Trivellini et al., 2020). Another example is California, USA, where commercial pitaya farms have also emerged in recent years due to its climate being close to that of northern Mexico. It is reported that California farms use greenhouses to cultivate yellow-skinned pitaya, with a considerable output value per hectare per year (Trindade et al., 2023). These successful cases indicate that yellow pitaya cultivation is possible in more subtropical and even temperate regions through facility agriculture. In addition, desert arid regions such as the Middle East and North Africa have also begun to pay attention to pitaya, a drought-resistant crop, to explore new ways of water-saving and high-value agriculture. In short, breaking geographical restrictions and exploring new suitable habitats for yellow pitaya in the world is an important direction for the expansion of the industry. 9.2 Development of facility agriculture Bird's nest fruit shows unique advantages in greenhouse and shed cultivation. In areas with higher northern latitudes, greenhouses can create a temperature and high light environment close to the tropics, allowing pitaya to grow and bear fruit smoothly. For example, Shandong and Liaoning in northern China have successfully cultivated red-fleshed pitaya using solar greenhouses, realizing "southern fruit and northern planting" (Liu, 2020). Greenhouse cultivation not only expands the planting area, but also extends the supply period. By regulating the temperature, humidity and light in the greenhouse, pitaya can bloom in non-traditional seasons, thereby achieving off-season production and meeting market demand throughout the year. For example, in a greenhouse experiment in Harbin, pitaya still blooms and bears fruit normally in the cold winter with excellent quality through heating and light enhancement. Facility agriculture is also conducive to fine management, such as the application of water and fertilizer integration and sensor monitoring to achieve precise irrigation and fertilization and environmental regulation, and reduce stress and coercion. The smart pitaya demonstration base in Zhanjiang, Guangdong has introduced agricultural meteorological monitoring and automated drip irrigation technology to improve yield and quality. It can be foreseen that with the advancement of facility horticulture technology, yellow pitaya will increasingly enter greenhouses and take root and bear fruit in a wider area. 9.3 Product diversification and processing value-added The fresh market for yellow pitaya continues to expand, and opportunities are also emerging in its processing and by-product utilization. Processed products such as pitaya juice, fruit wine, and dried fruit are beginning to be popular with consumers (Wang et al., 2019). Red-fleshed pitaya is rich in natural pigment betacyanin, which can be used as a food colorant or nutritional additive, and has application potential in beverages, baking and other industries (Lin et al., 2021). In addition, pitaya peel and seeds are rich in dietary fiber, unsaturated fatty acids and other substances, and are currently often discarded as waste. If developed, pectin can be extracted for functional foods or cosmetics, or seed oil can be pressed to make health oils (Villalobos-Gutiérrez et al., 2019). Some studies have explored the use of pitaya peel mucus to prepare edible packaging films (López-Díaz et al., 2023), turning waste into treasure and increasing added value. With the food industry's preference for natural raw materials, the value of yellow pitaya processing byproducts is expected to be further explored. This will promote the transformation of pitaya cultivation from single fresh fruit sales to the development of the entire industrial chain, increase the value of agricultural products through intensive processing, and drive the expansion of planting scale. For example, when there is a seasonal surplus of fruits such as longan and lychee, the introduction of pitaya processing can stagger production and stabilize the income of fruit farmers. Therefore, expanding the product chain of pitaya is also an important means to promote the expansion of its cultivation. 10 Future Prospects and Research Directions In the face of global climate change and disease threats, countries should jointly establish a yellow pitaya
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