International Journal of Molecular Ecology and Conservation, 2025, Vol.15, No.6, 294-302 http://ecoevopublisher.com/index.php/ijmec 297 4 Breeding Strategies to Improve Cultivation Efficiency 4.1 Synchronization of flowering and improvement of fruit set ability The key to high yield of yellow pitaya lies in the precise regulation of flowering synchronization and the improvement of fruit setting efficiency. The latest research reveals that metabolic regulatory networks and genetic control systems play a decisive role in the process of plants switching from vegetative growth to reproductive growth. Among them, carbon-nitrogen metabolic balance (C/N ratio) and photoperiod response and expression patterns of vernalization-related genes are core influencing factors (Shah et al., 2024). In-depth deciphering of these physiological mechanisms can not only lay a theoretical foundation for the precise regulation of flowering period, but also point out the direction for the cultivation of high-yield new varieties. Pollination biology research shows that the temporal and spatial matching of stigma receptivity and pollen vitality is crucial. Completing pollination within 6 hours after the flower opens can significantly increase the number and development quality of fruits (Li et al., 2020). By optimizing the timing of artificial pollination and overcoming genetic self-incompatibility barriers, the pollination success rate and final yield can be effectively improved. 4.2 Techniques to shorten the breeding cycle Making the breeding cycle faster is needed to create better varieties quickly. Efficient ways to grow many plants from small parts—like using dormant buds and better tissue culture steps—have been worked out. These let us grow and regrow pitaya plantlets fast (Qin et al., 2017). These methods can get a high number of roots to grow and keep the plants alive, cutting down a lot of time needed to make new breeding lines. Shuttle breeding, where countries work together and test plants in many places to pick the best ones, is another good way to speed up making new varieties and lower costs. 4.3 Optimization of plant architecture and breeding for mechanization adaptability The core of mechanized cultivation of yellow pitaya lies in the targeted improvement of plant traits. Compact plant shape, thornless stems, and concentrated flowering period - these traits have become important targets of modern breeding. They can significantly reduce the intensity of manual labor and improve the efficiency of mechanized operations. Comparative tests of multiple varieties have confirmed that varieties with regular fruit shapes and neat plant shapes have stronger environmental adaptability and stable productivity. Systematic optimization of breeding strategies for these target traits is expected to cultivate new varieties that are suitable for large-scale mechanized operations and promote an overall leap in industrial benefits. 5 Strategies for Enhancing Disease Resistance 5.1 Major diseases and their genetic basis yellow pitaya is highly sensitive to a variety of pathogens. Anthracnose, stem rot, soft rot and canker are common diseases, all of which pose a serious threat to fruit yield and quality (Xu et al., 2020; Wang et al., 2024b). Taking canker as an example, the disease caused by Neoscytalidium dimidiatum will erode the stem tissue, thereby damaging the integrity and commercial value of the fruit. Stem rot and soft rot caused by Gilbertella persicaria and Fusarium oxysporum spread rapidly in high humidity environments or when the plants are damaged, further escalating the degree of damage (Xu et al., 2019; Taba et al., 2021). After the disease infects the plant, it often causes a large amount of reactive oxygen species (ROS) to accumulate in the plant body. This accumulation eventually causes cell death and tissue rot (Ding et al., 2023; Xu et al., 2024). With the continuous advancement of omics technology, many types of regulatory elements closely related to disease response have been identified. Among them, PR protein, WRKY transcription factor and leucine-rich repeat sequence (LRR) protein encoding genes are significantly upregulated in the early stage of infection, participating in pathogen recognition and signal transduction (Figure 2) (Xu et al., 2019; Xu et al., 2020). In addition, in the abscisic acid (ABA)-related pathway, the PYL-PP2C-SnRK2s signaling module has been shown to enhance the resistance of yellow pitaya to ulcer disease (Wang et al., 2024a; Wang et al., 2024b). Functional studies have also found that transcription factors such as HmeWRKY33 and HmeWRKY51 affect the disease susceptibility of plants by regulating ROS balance and inducing the expression of downstream defense genes.
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