AbstractBACKGROUND: Determination of physico‐chemical (weight, length, diameter, stomatal density, respiration rate, colour, soluble solids concentration, titratable acidity, chlorophyll and betacyanin content) and structural changes of red‐fleshed dragon fruit (Hylocereus polyrhizus (Weber) Britton & Rose) was carried out from 5 to 35 days after pollination (DAP) in order to explain their growth, development, maturations and ripening stages.RESULTS: Fruit growth of red‐fleshed dragon fruit followed a sigmoid growth pattern. Significant changes in colour were obtained in both peel and pulp as DAP progressed, which were indicated by reductions of L*, C* and h° values as both changed from green to red–violet colour at ripening. Red–violet betacyanin was manifested earlier in pulp at 25 DAP, followed by peel 4–5 days later, and finally both peel and pulp turned full red–violet by 30 DAP. There was a significant increase in soluble solids concentration and titratable acidity with the continuous increase in betacyanin content as DAP progressed.CONCLUSION: The physico‐chemical and betacyanin accumulation of red‐fleshed dragon fruit changed as it developed, matured and ripened which coincided with structural changes. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry