Search

Hylocereus costaricensisWeb. (pink pulp dragon fruit) is a commercially important nutri-rich fruit crop of tropical and subtropical regions as it is a treasure of antioxidants and dietary fiber with a low glycemic index. Although the morphological descriptions of the white pulp (H. undatusHaworth) and red pulp (H. polyrhizusWeb.) dragon fruits have been recorded using the BBCH scale, there is little knowledge about the phenology of the pink pulp dragon fruit, Hylocereus costaricensis(Web.) Britton and Rose. The extended BBCH scale is used in the current study to establish codes and phenological stages of pink pulp dragon fruit. This three-digit number system helps to standardize its phenological stages. Seven main growth phases have been identified: bud initiation (stage 0), shoot development (stage 3), development of primary shoots (stage 4), floral bud initiation (stage 5), flowering (stage 6), fruit development (stage 7) and fruit maturity and harvest (stage 8). There are now 40 distinct secondary growth stages that have been defined and documented. Because it describes all the phenophases related to vegetative and reproductive phases of dragon fruit, the enlarged BBCH scale is widely relevant. The scale can be used for the characterization of germplasm and to assess the effect of climate change on the phenology of dragon fruit. This important phenological stage scale may be utilized in growth, development and physiological studies besides usage in calculating heat unit requirements for different phenological stages. This BBCH scale can be utilized for effective management of orchards, standardization of propagation methods, intercultural operations, water and nutrition management, judging maturity standards for harvest, post-harvest shelf life and integrated pest and disease management.

Geopolymers are an inorganic cementitious material that is gaining attention for its exceptional mechanical qualities, strong thermal resistance, and low dielectric properties. However, the brittle failure and low ductility of geopolymers limit their use in load-bearing or structural applications. To overcome this challenge, the present work focused on improving the physico-mechanical, water, and thermal resistance properties of geopolymers by reinforcing untreated and alkali-treated (5, 10, and 15% concentrations) Phoenixsp. fibers. The outcomes revealed that the incorporation of Phoenixsp. fibers improved the performance of the geopolymer. In particular, the geopolymer reinforced with 10% alkali-treated fibers showed substantial improvement in their characteristics. The microstructural investigation demonstrated that the treated fibers formed a good interfacial bond with the geopolymers. In addition, load–deflection tests were conducted to examine the viability of the Phoenixsp. fiber–based geopolymer composites for structural applications. The findings of this study indicate that using alkali Phoenixsp. fibers as a fibrous material in the manufacturing of ecologically friendly and durable geopolymer concrete has a promising future in the construction sector.