International Journal of Horticulture, 2025, Vol.15, No.6, 279-289 http://hortherbpublisher.com/index.php/ijh 279 Research Article Open Access Optimizing Root and Shoot Development in Dragon Fruit Using Plant Growth Hormones under Polyhouse Conditions at NARC Tarahara, Nepal Ranjana Shrestha 1, Puspa Kumari Mandal 1, Samjhana Karki 1, Manisha Chardhary 1, Sushma Neupane 1 , Reshma Dhakal 1, Sunny Kumar Shah2 1 Faculty of Science and Technology, Girija Prasad Koirala College of Agriculture and Research Center (GPCAR), Purbanchal University, Gothgaun, Morang, 56600, Nepal 2 Department of Horticultural Science, Faculty of Science and Technology, Girija Prasad Koirala College of Agriculture and Research Center (GPCAR), Purbanchal University, Gothgaun, Morang, 56600, Nepal Corresponding author: sushmaneupani369@gmail.com International Journal of Horticulture, 2025, Vol.15, No.6 doi: 10.5376/ijh.2025.15.0028 Received: 07 Jul., 2025 Accepted: 15 Oct., 2025 Published: 27 Nov., 2025 Copyright © 2025 Shrestha et al., 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: Shrestha R., Mandal P.K., Karki S., Chardhary M., Neupane S., Dhakal R., and Shah S.K., 2025, Optimizing root and shoot development in dragon fruit using plant growth hormones under polyhouse conditions at NARC Tarahara, Nepal, International Journal of Horticulture, 15(6): 279-289 (doi: 10.5376/ijh.2025.15.0028) Abstract Dragon fruit (Hylocereus spp.) is gaining popularity in Nepal’s subtropical regions due to its high nutritional value and increasing market demand. However, its expansion is hindered by poor rooting efficiency and the absence of standardized propagation techniques, particularly regarding the use of growth hormones in cuttings. To address this limitation, a study was conducted from March to June 2024 to assess the influence of different plant growth hormones on rooting and vegetative growth of red-skinned, white-fleshed dragon fruit cuttings. The experiment followed a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with six treatments: IBA 7,500 PPM, IBA 6,500 PPM, NAA 200 PPM, NAA 400 PPM, IBA 400 PPM + NAA 200 PPM, and a control, each replicated four times. Cuttings were established in polybags filled with a 1:1:1 mixture of sand, soil, and farmyard manure. Data were collected at 30, 60, and 90 days after planting on shoot and root emergence, number and length of shoots and roots, and shoot/root diameter. Results showed that the combination of IBA 400 + NAA 200 PPM was the most effective treatment, producing the earliest root emergence (23.25 days), the longest shoots (30.07 cm), the thickest shoots (20.7 mm), the longest roots (18.82 cm), and a competitive root diameter (1.66 mm). IBA 7,500 PPM also performed strongly, especially in root traits, with the highest root number (20.22) and maximum root diameter (1.78 mm), while IBA 6,500 PPM showed moderate effects. In contrast, the control consistently recorded the poorest performance across all traits, confirming the critical role of growth hormones in enhancing dragon fruit propagation. Keywords Growth hormones; Dragon fruit; Rooting; Cutting; Vegetative propagation 1 Introduction Dragon fruit, also known as pitaya or pitahaya, is a semi-epiphytic climbing cactus belonging to the Cactaceae family (Ahmad et al., 2016; Sujata et al., 2022). Native to Central and South America, it is widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions, especially in Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, and Israel. Its increasing popularity is attributed to its unique appearance, high antioxidant content, and numerous health benefits. Rich in vitamins C and B, minerals, phytoalbumins, and fiber, the fruit is known to reduce the risk of oxidative stress-related disorders, including diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and hypertension (Yadav et al., 2024). These functional properties make dragon fruit a promising agricultural commodity with growing global demand. Nepal, with its diverse agro-climatic zones ranging from tropical to subtropical regions, presents favorable conditions for dragon fruit cultivation, particularly in the Terai and mid-hill areas up to 1,500 meters above sea level (Sujata et al., 2022). Dragon fruit thrives in regions with annual temperatures between 20 °C-30 °C and rainfall ranging from 500-1,500 mm. Although commercial cultivation is still in its early stages, interest among Nepalese farmers is steadily increasing (Yadav et al., 2011). Initial cultivation began in Kavre district with the white-fleshed variety introduced from Vietnam, and red-fleshed types are now gaining traction due to higher consumer appeal and market value (Sujata et al., 2022).
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjQ4ODYzNA==