INCREASED ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY IN RED PITAHAYA IN RESPONSE TO STRESS CAUSED BY THE MODIFICATION OF THE PHOTOSYNTHETIC PROCESS

Abstract

This article describes the increase in the antioxidant activity of the red Pitahaya Hylocereus undatus against the stress caused by the modification of the photosynthetic process, assisted to increase the production of the crops of 90 plants of Hylocereus undatus, approximately 12 years old, with 1m 50cm tall We worked in an area of 180m² where the plants were subjected to a renewable energy system (solar panels, charge regulator, batteries, inverter and bulbs or lamps) for 6 hours (21:00 pm-3:00am) for a period prolonged for 18 months. To accelerate its growth, the plantation was divided between a control area of 90m² and an experimental area of 90m². To determine its antioxidant capacity, the level of absorption of free radicals was evaluated using the DPPH method (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl). It was obtained as a result that stress caused an increase in 70% of its activity, increasing its antioxidant capacity.

Keywords: Hylocereus undatus, antioxidant activity, Red Pitahaya, photosynthetic process, DPPH method.

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