Review Fruits, vol. 61 (4) 237 Pitahaya (Hylocereus spp.): a new fruit crop, a market with a future.Abstract --Introduction. Still practically unknown in the mid-1990s in Europe, pitahaya (Hylocereus spp.) is now a full member of the 'small exotic fruits' category in shops. Nevertheless, these species are not very well known. The aims of our work were first to evaluate thoroughly the literature currently available on Hylocereus and secondly to supplement this review by agronomic works not yet published. Knowledge of Hylocereus. The study includes a presentation of the origin, botany, morphology and floral biology of the principal species cultivated within the Hylocereus genus and suggests a key for determination. Cultivation techniques. The agronomical practices used in Hylocereus orchards are broached: multiplication, cultivation practices (supports, density, pruning, mineral nutrition, irrigation, etc.), pollination and harvest. Pests and diseases are cited too. Physico-chemical composition of fruits. This work draws up a review of different studies regarding pitahaya composition, micronutrients and pigments. Post-harvest and processing. The life of the fruit after harvest (conservation and storage life) is approached as well as the various possibilities of processing. European market. The European market is analyzed for the various cultivated species of Hylocereus (imported quantity, market segment, origin of production, etc.) and its evolution prospects are evoked. Conclusion. Our review highlights the fact that the interest shown in these pitahayas is recent and, for these reasons, more detailed knowledge on these species is required (agronomic, genetic and technological). tropical zones / subtropical zones / Hylocereus / botany / agronomy / chemical composition / storage / postharvest technology / European union / markets Les pitahayas (Hylocereus spp.) : nouveaux fruits, marché en devenir. Résumé --Introduction. Encore pratiquement inconnues dans le milieu des années 1990, les pitahayas (Hylocereus spp.) font désormais partie intégrante du marché européen au linéaire « petits fruits exotiques ». Pourtant, ces différentes espèces semblent mal connues. Les objectifs de notre travail ont été à la fois de faire un point approfondi de la bibliographie disponible et de compléter cette synthèse par des travaux agronomiques non publiés. Connaissance des Hylocereus. L'étude comprend une présentation de l'origine, la botanique, la morphologie et la biologie florale des principales espèces cultivées au sein du genre Hylocereus et propose une clé de détermination. Techniques culturales. Les différentes pratiques culturales connues sont abordées : techniques de multiplication, conduite agronomique (palissage, taille, fertilisation, irrigation, etc.), pollinisation, récolte, etc. Les principaux ravageurs et maladies sont également cités. Composition physico-chimique des fruits. Ce travail fait une synthèse des différentes études effectuées sur la pitahaya : composition physico-chimique, micronutriments et colorants. ...

The abundance and diversity of phytoseiid mites in the vegetal ground cover of a citrus orchard were surveyed by monthly samplings from October 2008 to July 2009. Six different vegetal cover management methods were studied: herbicide application without mowing (Gly), mowing without herbicide application (PV), mowing with herbicide application (AV), late mowing without herbicide application (LMV), cover crop (Neonotonia wightii, Fabaceae) without herbicide application (PNeo) and cover crop with herbicide application (ANeo). Eleven species were present in the ground cover, with Phytoseius rex and Proprioseiopsis mexicanus as major species. Species richness and densities (1.5 ± 4.5) in the Gly treatment were very low, except for one sample 4 months after herbicide treatment. The AV and PV treatments showed poor diversity and very low mite densities (1.2 ± 2.6 and 1.4 ± 1.5, respectively). The LMV treatment showed the highest diversity and high density of phytoseiid mites (6.9 ± 8.8). The ANeo and PNeo treatments also showed generally high diversity, but with variations in time and exhibited the highest density of phytoseiid mites (13.5 ± 12.7 and 13.4 ± 9.1, respectively). Neonotonia wightii as the cover crop seems to act as a reservoir of phytoseiid mites, sustaining abundant and diverse populations all year round. Some naturally occurring plant species such as Achyranthes aspera, Amaranthus dubius and Eleutheranthera ruderalis could also constitute favourable host plants for Phytoseiidae. Results are discussed in relation to the potential of collected phytoseiid species as candidates for biological control of phytophagous mites on Guadeloupean citrus orchards.

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