Plant development and yield in the pineapple as affected by size and type of planting material and times of planting and forcing

Abstract

The effects of size and type of planting material, time of planting and time of forcing on plant growth and yield of Smooth Cayenne pineapples were investigated at the Maroochy Horticultural Research Station in south-eastern Queensland.
Heavier planting material resulted in larger plants at the time of forcing, heavier fruit with more fruitlets and multiple tops, and greater slip development, while sucker development was not increased. Harvesting was only slightly delayed by the smaller material.
Slips and tops of equal size resulted in almost identical plant development and yield.
Progressively later autumn plantings caused no significant differences in plant size at the time of forcing or in fruit weight, although there was a downward trend. The latest planting slightly delayed flowering and harvesting irrespective of forcing, and reduced fruitlet numbers. Later planting caused a decided decrease in the number of multiple tops and slips, while early planting reduced sucker development.
Variations in time of forcing for the summer crop had little effect on fruit weight, number of fruitlets or number of multiple tops. However, there was a tendency for May forcing to produce the heaviest fruit. Early forcing resulted in earlier flowering and harvesting, fewer slips from the smaller plants, and a general increase in sucker development.