Pineapple
Ananas comosus (L)

 

 

Introduction
Family : Bromeliaceae
Include 60 genera and 1500 spp

Origin :- South America

1. Semi perennial herb, 90 - 100 cm in height with a leaf spread of 130 - 150 cm and a terminal inflorescence of fruit
2. Confined to Tropics & Sub tropics (250 between N & S from equator)
3. Growth continued after fruiting by one or more auxiliary buds in the leaf axil growing in to vegetative branches (suckers) asa ratoon crops.
4. Plants may continue living and fruiting for over fifty years.
5. In commercial production, several ratoon crops are taken (2-6 harvesting)‍
6. Although its' a seasonal crop, there is a chance to obtain fruits through out the year by application of flower induction hormones.

Nature of the pineapple

• Produce Functional germ cells
• But cant be self fertilized.
• Cross compatible & set seeds
• No natural cross pollination (except by Humming birds)
• About 150 flowers /fruits
• Opening start from base (5-10 Flowers / days)
• Continues up to 10-15 days

Nutritive Values
(per 100g of edible fruit)

Water	87.8 g
Energy	46.0 k cal
Protein	0.4 g
Fat	0.1 g
Carbohydrates	10.8 g
Calcium	20.0 mg
Phosphorus	9.0 g
Iron	1.2 mg
Carotene (Vit. A)	18.0 ug
Thiamine	200.0 ug
Riboflavin (Vit. B)	120.0 ug
Niacin	0.1 ug
Vitamin C	39.0 mg

Commercial usage of pineapple
Ripen fruits :-

• use as a dessert
• Syrup (juice)
• Alcohol
• Citric Acid
• Residues - Cattle feed and fertilizer
• Leaves Fibers-

Medicinal Values
Ripe fruit : Possesses germicidal, laxative, and invigorative properties, contains digestive enzyme increases appetite.
Useful in cardiovascular disorders.
Unripe fruit : Can cause abortion

Nature of cultivation
Medium and large scale orchards and home gardens.

Availability
May - June (Major season) Prices are low
December - January (Minor season)

Obtain fruits through out the year by Hormone application - Prices are high

Pineapple cultivation extent and production in Sri Lanka

District	Extent (ha)	Production ('000 fruits)
1. Gampaha	1,694	8,969
2. Kurunegala	2,069	25,170
3. Badulla	115	1,201
4. Puttlam	199	1,329
5. Moneragala	157	1,140
SriLanka (Total)	4,825	40,716

Source:- Department of Census and Statistics of Sri Lanka.

Major Growing AreasKurunagala , Gampaha , Badhulla , Puttlam , Moneragala , Colombo and Gale.

Suitable climatic zones for pineapple cultivation in Sri Lanka

Wet Zone		WL1	WL2	WL3
	RF	>100"	>75"	>60"
	Soil	Red yellow podsolic	Red yellow podsolic	Red yellow podsolic
		Hiniduma, Ratnapura,Morawaka, Agalawatta, Bombuwela	Kegalla, Pelmadulla Warakapola Polgahawela Mapalana Nakiadeniya	Walpita, Mirigama,Veyanoda, Mahara

Recommended Varieties
1. Cayenne = Smooth cayenne = "Kew" Pineapple in SriLanka
2. Queen = "Mauritius" in SriLanka
3. Singapore Spanish

Commercial varieties in SriLanka

Characters	Kew	Mauritius
1.Presence of spins in leaves	No	Yes
2.Quality of flesh	Very Good	Excellent
3. Canning quality	Very Good	Fair
4. Fruit Yield	High	Average
5. Fruit weight (kg)	2.5 - 4	1.2 - 2
6. Shape of the fruit	Cylindrical	Conical
7. Color of the ripen fruit	Yellow with green mottling	Golden yellow
8. Flavor and aroma	Pleasant	Excellent
9. Wilt resistance	Susceptible	Moderately susceptible
10. Drought resistance	Moderately resistant	Resistant
11. Farmer preference	Medium	High
12. Cultivated extent	Very low (5%)	Very high (95%)

Diseases of Pineapple
1. Pineapple wilt
2. Yellow spots
3. Heart/root rot
4. Butt rot
5. Phythium rot
6. Acetic souring
7. Glassy spoilage
8. Yeast fermentation

Pineapple wilt Symptoms

• Slow growth on roots
• Inhibit the root actions
• Deteriorating of root tissue
• Red colour leaf tips

Control

• Select the suitable land
• Controlling ants and mealy bugs
• Using healthy plants, pretreatment of suckers before planting
• Control the plant density (Desukering after harvesting)
• Weeds control
• Shade control
• Control the excess fertilizer application

Pests of Pineapple
1. Mealy bug
2. Fruit borer
3. Stem borer
4. Nematodes
5. Rats
6. Termites
7. Pineapple bug/beatle
8. Symphylids
9. Pineapple mites
10. Scale insects

Control of pineapple pest and diseases

Name	Chemical	Time of application	Concentration
1.Mealy bug	Selecron / Tokuthion	Preplanting and 5,8 and 14 months after planting	30 ml liquefy in 10 l of water
2. Head /root rot	Ridomil / Mancozeb	Preplanting ,dip the suckers 5 minutes in the mixture	Ridomil 200 ml+ 100 l of water Mancozeb 10 g + 100 l of water
3. Pythium rot	1.Mancozeb 2.Topzin	If disease present only	5.0g liquefy in 10 l of water

Climatic Requirements
Elevation
Up to 1000 m from the sea level ( higher elevations fruit contains high acidity)

Optimum temperature
24- 27⁰ C

Mean Annual Rain fall
1000 mm (635 - 2500 mm)

Low country wet & intermediate zones more suitable (with supplementary irrigation Dry zone also suitable)

Well drained , deep and gravel soils are much better.

Poor drainage soils are not good

Optimum soil PH = 5.5-6.5

Salinity and alkalinity soils are not good except little acidity and heavy clay

Should be exposed to sunlight in the open field or intercrop with young or old coconut

Ca and Mn rich soils are not good. (Cholorosis may appear)

Planting Material

Type of suckers	Duration from planting to harvesting (months)
1. Ground suckers	12 -14
2. Stem suckers	14 - 16
3. Slips	20 - 22
4. Crown	24
5. Tissue culture plants	15 - 18
6. Seedling	30

Planting material production ratio

Types of planting material	Ratio
1. Crown splitting	1:20
2. Stem sections	1:30
3. Normal suckers per plant	1: 2 - 3
4. Seedlings per fruit (by artificial cross pollination)	1:150
5. Suckers from decapitation per plant	1:20
6. Tissue culture plantlets per shoot	1:6000

Plants requirement (ha)

Planting System	Mono crops	Intercrop with coconut
1. Single row method (spacing 2 x 0.3 m)	14,000	10,000
2. Double row method (1.5 x 0.3 m) (Two double 0.6 m)	27,000	16,000

Pretreatment of suckers
1. Insecticides
Mix selecron/tokuthion 300 ml in 100 l of water , dip the suckers 5 minutes in this solution.
2. Fungicides
Mix ridomil 200 ml in 100 l of water, dip the suckers 5 minutes in this solution.

Hormone Application
Apply to getuniform fruit setting & off season fruit production

Time & Method of application
Five months before the harvesting. Should contain 30 - 35 leaves and the age at 8 - 10 months

Hormone	Trade Name	Applying Quantity	Application Rate/tree
1.CaC2	Calcium Carbite	30g + 1Lit. of water	50 ml
2. NAA	Plantifix	4.5 Lit. of water	50 ml
3. Ethylene	Ethral	1ml + 5Lit. of water	50 ml

Pineapple hybridization
Steps:- 1. Cross pollination

• Followers opening at 9-10 AM
• Not necessary to emasculate,Not necessary to isolate the plants or flowers
• Anthers collected to small box by forceps at around 10 AM
• Single anther rubbed over the stigma with forceps
• Pollinated flowers are net covered
• Crossed fruits should be labeled
• Ripen fruits are separately harvest for seed extraction

Steps:- 2. Collection & germination of seeds

• Cut the ripen fruits & get the hybrid seeds
• Clean the seeds with water
• Seeds germination (4-6 weeks) - Seeds will be placed on bricks
• Keep on a water bath
• Half of the bricks should be get wet
• It has to be covered with polyethylene orpiece of flat glass

Steps:- 3. Nursery Management of Seedlings

• 30-45 days old seedlings will be planted in the seedling trays & kept for 6 months
• Seedlings will be replanted in the field nursery & kept for 6 months
• Total period for nursery is about 1 year

Steps:-4. Evaluation of hybrid lines in the field

• Lines should be evaluated by using fruit to row planting system
• Spacing 1x2 m (All the seedlings of one fruit should plant in one row)
• Plants should be selected forGene-typically differences,Characters for high yields & qualities
• Selected plants should be propagated by vegetative suckers
• Progeny screening & data collection should be continued up to third generation

Steps:-5. Adaptability testing
Different locations (NCVT trials)

• Single row system should be adapted (spacing 0.30 x 1.00 m)
• Compare with recommended varieties
• Growth, yields & quality characters
• Data should be collected from the ratoon crops

Harvesting & post-harvest technology
Value Added Products
Cordials, canned products , jams, alcohol (wine), syrup, dehydrated products for confectionery, ice cream.

Economics & Marketing
Problems and Constraints in pineapple cultivation
1. Climate change - Drought and high rain fall
2. Less land availability
3. High investment
4. Lack of good varieties
5. Lack of planting material
6. Weed
7. High cost of inputs
8. Lack of laborers
9. Pest and diseases (esp. pineapple wilt)
10. Price fluctuations
11. Lack of technical knowledge

Harvesting & post-harvest technology
Value Added Products
Cordials, canned products, jams, alcohol (wine), syrup, dehydrated products for confectionery, ice cream.