Original Research Article
Year: 2018 | Month: April | Volume: 5 | Issue: 4 | Pages: 27-32
Plant Age and Rate of Flower Inducer Affects Flower Initiation of ‘MD2’ Pineapple (Ananas comosus L.)
Vences C. Valleser
Faculty, Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, Central Mindanao University,
University Town, Musuan, Bukidnon, Mindanao, PhilippinesABSTRACT
Pineapple plants are induced to flower especially for commercial production to synchronize harvest and save labor costs. This study was conducted to determine the flowering response of ‘MD2’ pineapple plants of different ages to rates of Ethrel application. The experiment was laid out in Split Plot arrangement in RCBD. The ages of pineapple (9, 10, 11 month-old plants) served as the main plot, whereas the rates of Ethrel (0, 800, 1000, 1200 ppm) as the sub plot.
‘MD2’ pineapple (10 and 11 months old) exhibited comparable growth characteristics except for D-leaf weight. Plants at 11 months after planting (MAP) were relatively heavier compared to 10 MAP. Growth characteristics of the 9 MAP plantings were generally inferior compared with those of the 10 and 11 months-old. Rate of Ethrelinduced 95.56 to 100% apical differentiation of the plants. Although the control showed only 13.33 % apical differentiation at 18 days after treatment, this indicates the readiness of 9 MAP ‘MD2’ pineapple for flower induction. Apical differentiation of meristems among ‘MD2’ pineapple have significantly increased and become distinct with the increasing rates of Ethrel. Percent red buds development at 41 days after flower induction increased from plants of 10 to 11 MAP and as the rates of Ethrel application was increased from 800 to 1200 ppm. Likewise there was a significant interaction observed between the age of the plants and the rates of Ethrel in red buds development of ‘MD2’ pineapple. Highest percentage of red buds development was attained in 11 month-old plants applied with 1200 ppm Ethrel.
Key words: pineapple flowering, ethylene, plant age, flower initiation.
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