Document Type
Article
Journal/Book Title/Conference
International Journal of Plant Biology
Author ORCID Identifier
Noemi Tel-Zur https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7670-6518
Maria Raquel Alcântara de Miranda https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0069-7242
William Natale https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9572-4463
Márcio Cleber de Medeiros Corrêa https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0702-4959
Volume
16
Issue
4
Publisher
MDPI AG
Publication Date
11-12-2025
Journal Article Version
Version of Record
First Page
1
Last Page
13
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Abstract
Hylocereus species are promising for enhancing fruit productivity in arid regions, but high solar radiation often leads to yield loss. This study aimed to evaluate the short-term impact of different shading levels on the physiological performance, productivity, and post-harvest quality of Hylocereus costaricensis under semi-arid conditions. Plants were grown in the field under two shade levels, i.e., 35 and 50% and their performances were compared to plants under control, i.e., 0% of shade or full sunlight. The nighttime CO2 assimilation and productivity increased significantly by 310.5 and 114.6% and 34.3 and 50.14% for plants under 35 and 50% of shade, respectively, compared to the control. A Principal Component Analysis (PCA) revealed that shade enhanced skin betalain (BETS) and phenolic content (PETP), whereas non-shaded plants expressed traits more closely associated with plant and fruit photoprotective pigment synthesis, i.e., total carotenoids and yellow flavonoids, respectively, along with total sugar accumulation, underscoring the significant impact of shading on both metabolic activity and overall agronomic outcomes. Shading within the 35% to 50% range is effective to cope with high solar radiation by improving photosynthetic capacity, productivity, and post-harvest quality, especially regarding the accumulation of pigments such as betalains, indicating that shade as an agro-technique is a valuable approach for the cultivation of Hylocereus species in dryland regions.
Recommended Citation
Tomaz de Oliveira, M.M.; Tel-Zur, N.; Albano-Machado, F.G.; Melo Penha, D.; Pinho, M.M.; Bezerra, M.; Alcântara de Miranda, M.R.; Herbster Moura, C.F.; Elesbão Alves, R.; Natale, W.; et al. Shade as an Agro-Technique to Improve Gas Exchange, Productivity, Bioactive Potential, and Antioxidant Activity of Fruits of Hylocereus costaricensis. Int. J. Plant Biol. 2025, 16, 128. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijpb16040128