The effect of light supplementation on the changes in outer and inner fruit quality of different Selenicereus spp. cultivars

BACKGROUND: Selenicereus spp., belonging to the Cactaceae family, produces pitaya, a fruit recognized for its exotic appearance and rich phytochemical composition. In regions with shorter photoperiods, flowering and fruit development are limited, making light supplementation a promising strategy. However, its effects on fruit quality, particularly across different cultivars, remain insufficiently explored. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of LED light supplementation during flowering on the physicochemical characteristics and bioactive compounds of pitaya fruits. RESULTS: Plants of 'Boreal Red' and 'Chinesa' (S. undatus) and 'Roxa do Pará' (S. costaricensis) were subjected to light supplementation for 4 h daily (20:00-24:00) during the flowering period (20 ± 3 days) using full-spectrum LED lamps (400-700 nm). Fruits were harvested at commercial maturity and analyzed for physical, physicochemical, and biochemical attributes. Light supplementation significantly increased fruit mass (19.04%), peel brightness (4.19%), peel chromaticity (5.31%), pulp hue (66.65%), fructose (29.17%), and vitamin C (6.73%) across cultivars. Additionally, 'Boreal Red' exhibited increases in pulp hue (30.67%), sucrose (23.19%), and glucose (30.12%). CONCLUSION: Light supplementation during flowering positively influences fruit quality attributes in pitaya, enhancing both primary metabolites such as sugars, and bioactive compounds such as vitamin C. These findings support the use of light supplementation as a strategy to improve fruit quality under short photoperiod conditions, contributing to the development of more efficient cultivation practices in Brazil.