In Santa Catarina, farmer Domingos Casagrande, who has been cultivating pitaya for five years on a plantation of just over one hectare, encountered an unprecedented event. The usual weight range for dragon fruit varies between 50g and 300g, yet one of Casagrande's specimens reached a remarkable 2,365 kilos. This extraordinary development was first hinted at by the robustness of one particular seedling's stem, distinguishing it early on. Casagrande, a member of Cooperja, observed not only that the fruit sizes from this cactus were larger than average in 2023 but also that the record-breaking fruit developed from a singular flower, unlike its counterparts.
The growth process of this "giant pitaya" was meticulously monitored by Casagrande, noting significant size differences just 15 days post-pollination. To accommodate its exceptional weight, additional support measures were implemented on the plant. The final weight of the fruit, confirming its extraordinary size, was a surprise to the farmer. "Basically, I didn't expect her to reach such an extraordinary weight," Casagrande revealed, underscoring the unexpected nature of this agricultural achievement.
Source: abrafrutas.org