Gyeonggi Provincial Agricultural Research and Extension Services develops a new grafted cactus variety, ‘Red Moon’, for export.

Developed 3 varieties of grafted cactus, non-peony, and 1 variety of Sanchwi for export

The Gyeonggi Provincial Agricultural Research and Extension Services announced on the 25th that it has developed new non-peony varieties ‘Red Moon’, ‘Yellow Moon’, and ‘Pink Moon’, which are grafted cacti for export, and a new mountain cucumber variety ‘Golden Bell’.

The Red Moon is an oblong-shaped red cactus with flat tops and bottoms and brown thorns. The number of plant stems (round-shaped young branches of cacti) used in grafting propagation is as many as 20, and the growth is fast. Yellow Moon has a dark yellow, oblong shape, light brown thorns, and a large number of 20 thorns, making it highly productive. The pink phylum is dark pink, has an oblong shape, has brown thorns, and has 18 vesicles evenly growing on it.

Goldenbells are bright yellow, cylindrical, and have soft thorns that are a mixture of brown and white. About 6 vegetative bulbs grow on the lower part of the stem, and the low height of the plant makes it convenient to pack into boxes for export.

Grafted cacti are cacti that lack chlorophyll and appear in bright colors such as red, yellow, and pink instead of green. They are produced by grafting onto delta cacti that have sufficient chlorophyll. It is produced in Korea and exported to the world, but because it is propagated after grafting, it has the disadvantage of being vulnerable to virus infection and having a short lifespan of the variety. In order to make up for these shortcomings and increase the productivity of farms, the Cactus Succulent Plant Research Institute develops new varieties of non-peonies and Sanchwi every year and supplies them to farms.

Despite the recent continued decline in flower exports, the export value of cactus, a local specialty crop in Gyeonggi-do, is maintained at around 3 to 4 million dollars annually.

Seong Je-hoon, director of the Gyeonggi Provincial Agricultural Research and Extension Services, said, “Cactus is a flower crop that contributes greatly to exports, accounting for 37% of Korea’s total flower exports, so the development and distribution of new grafted cactus varieties will be of great help in promoting exports and improving farmers’ income.”

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