Response of `Smooth cayenne' pineapple [Ananas comosus (L.) Merr.] to paclobutrazol and ethrel application
2003
Ortuoste, J.D.
The study was conducted to determine the response of highly vigorous and vegetative `Smooth Cayenne' pineapple, (Ananas comosus (L.) Merr.) to paclobutrazol (PB2) and ethrel application. Paclobutrazol applied at 0 ppm (water only), 0 ppm (ethrel only), 25 ppm PBZ + ethrel, 50 ppm PBZ + ethrel and 50 ppm PBZ only in a 150-ml solution was applied as soil drench using a PVC pipe with funnel on top at 2, 4, and 6 weeks before flower induction. Paclobutrazol significantly reduced the height and leaf size of the plants especially at 4 and 6 weeks before flower induction. PBZ treated plants flowered by 10 days in advance as compared to those with ethrel only. This was verified by the anatomical studies of the shoot apex of pineapple. The highest flowering percentage was obtained from plants with 50 ppm PBZ alone or 50 ppm PBZ + ethrel applied at 2 weeks before flower induction. Control plants (water only) started to flower at 55 days after flower induction (DAFI). Further, PBZ treated plants were on the minimum vegetative phase prior to ethrel application with wider stem diameter, a signal for the transition from vegetative to reproductive phase. At 20 DAFI, all PBZ treated plants had completed inflorescence initiation. They have lower GA3-like content as compared to untreatable plants. Weight and length of fruits were not affected by the PBZ application. They have wider fruit diameter resembling the typical characteristic shape of `Smooth Cayenne' pineapple. Higher starch content of the leaves, acceptable juice pH, TA and TSS were obtained from PBZ treated pineapple. Fruits exhibited more yellow color and were more translucent. Plants applied with 50 ppm PBZ alone gave the highest return per unit investment as compared to control plants (water and ethrel only)
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