International Journal of Molecular Ecology and Conservation, 2025, Vol.15, No.6, 294-302 http://ecoevopublisher.com/index.php/ijmec 296 3 Current Status and Main Challenges of Yellow Pitaya Breeding 3.1 Narrow genetic basis of existing varieties yellow pitaya breeding is still severely restricted by the limitations of genetic resources. Most commercial varieties are derived from very few parents, and the genetic backgrounds between varieties are highly similar, which limits the ability to introduce new traits (such as disease resistance and stress resistance) and significantly increases the sensitivity of the cultivation system to pests and diseases and environmental changes. Although inter-generic and inter-specific hybridization has successfully cultivated some hybrid strains with unique traits, the genetic diversity of the entire breeding material is still insufficient, and pure varieties in the true sense are still scarce (Nashima et al., 2021; Tel-Zur, 2022). Due to the obvious differences in environmental adaptability between genotypes, existing materials are often difficult to adapt to the cultivation needs of different ecological regions. In addition, yellow pitaya has a complex genetic background, and its main traits are controlled by quantitative genetics, so conventional breeding methods are slow. The lack of germplasm resources further limits the screening range of excellent parents, which restricts the selection and breeding of new varieties (Nashima et al., 2021; Tel-Zur, 2022). 3.2 Bottleneck of planting efficiency The current planting system generally has the problems of high cost and low efficiency. Artificial pollination requires a lot of manpower, and the cultivation operation is cumbersome. The high input management requirements and the lack of high-yield and stable varieties make the overall production efficiency of yellow pitaya low. Existing varieties are generally susceptible to diseases, the fruit setting rate is unstable, and the response to adverse stress is poor, which directly affects the stable performance of yield and quality. Poor synchronization between pollination and flowering is the core problem that limits planting efficiency. The short flowering cycle and inconsistent timing make natural pollination complicated. The transition between vegetative growth and reproductive development is regulated by a sophisticated metabolic and genetic network, and the current understanding of its regulatory mechanism is still insufficient, which in turn limits the effective management of flowering time (Shah et al., 2024). In addition, the strong self-incompatibility makes yellow pitaya highly dependent on cross-pollination. Although this mechanism helps to increase genetic diversity, it is laborious and pollination efficiency is low, which reduces fruit set rate and overall yield level. Even under facility cultivation conditions, fruit size, sugar content and sensory quality still show strong fluctuations, and commercial traits are difficult to unify. The combination of these factors has become a key bottleneck restricting its commercial expansion. 3.3 Serious disease problems Yellow pitaya is threatened by a variety of fungal and viral diseases. Fungal diseases such as stem rot (caused by Fusarium), anthracnose (Anthracnose spp.) and canker (Neoscyllus spp.) are common in production, which not only cause premature plant aging and fruit rot, but also significantly reduce yield and marketability. Viral diseases, especially those caused by Pitaya virus X (PiVX) and other closely related viruses, have increased significantly in frequency with the expansion of planting scale and the popularization of asexual reproduction. Single or combined infection patterns pose a continuous threat to yield (Zhao et al., 2023). At present, disease-resistant varieties are scarce, and most of them show partial or staged resistance, which cannot meet the needs of long-term stable prevention and control. Genetic information related to disease defense mechanisms is still poorly understood, and the localization and functional verification of disease-resistant genes have just started, resulting in disease-resistant breeding still in its early stages. The current prevention and control system mostly relies on early disease identification and management measures, lacking systematic and lasting control measures. There is an urgent need to build more efficient and environmentally friendly genetic resistance resources and prevention and control strategies (Zhao et al., 2023).
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