Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-dsjbd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-28T00:56:10.937Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Natural flowering in pineapple: inhibition by growth regulators

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 January 2003

Getulio Augusto Pinto da Cunha
Affiliation:
Embrapa Cassava and Fruit Crops, PO Box 007, 44.380-000, Cruz das Almas, BA, Brazil
José Tarciso Alves Costa
Affiliation:
UFC, PO Box 6012, 60.451-970, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
Domingo Haroldo Reinhardt
Affiliation:
Embrapa Cassava and Fruit Crops, PO Box 007, 44.380-000, Cruz das Almas, BA, Brazil
Get access

Abstract

Introduction. Natural flowering is an obstacle for the management of pineapple production. This phenomenon is at the origin of considerable and increasing fruit losses on an international scale. The objective of this work was to determine, at various times of the year, the role of substances inhibiting the vegetative growth of the plant to prevent, reduce or delay the natural pineapple flowering of the variety `Perola', most planted in Brazil. Materials and methods. Two trials were conducted in the experimental field in Cruz das Almas, Bahia, Brasil, during the years 1996 to 1999. Various growth substances were tested at various con- centrations: propionic acid 2-(3-chlorophenoxy) (ACP) at (45, 90 and 120) mg·L-1, paclobutra- zole (PBZ) at (77.4, 155.8 and 320) mg·L-1, mepiquat chlorure (MC) at (60 and 120) mg·L-1, gibberelic acid (GA3) at (30 and 60) mg·L-1, tebuconazole (TBZ) at (60 and 120) mg·L-1 and propaconazole (PPZ) at 120 mg·L-1. The treatments were applied onto two, three or four split applications, every 15 days, from 7:00 to 9:00 a.m. and from April to July (the critical period for natural flowering in the region). Results and discussion. The results obtained show that ACP and PBZ are capable of inhibiting, reducing and delaying the natural flowering of pine- apple with the concentrations of (90 to 240) mg·L-1. The best results were obtained when the growth regulators were applied during April and May. The other products did not have an effect on the natural flowering of pineapple. Conclusion. The variation observed in the effects and efficiencies of the growth regulators used indicates the necessity of validating the best treatments under different environmental and cultural conditions. The selected growth regulators can be a valuable tool for physiological studies on the mechanisms of flowering initiation in pineapple.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© CIRAD, EDP Sciences

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Barbosa, N.M.L., Cunha, G.A.P. da, Reinhardt, H.D., Barros, P.G., Controle da floraç ao natural do abacaxizeiro `Pérola' com uréia e reguladores de crescimento, no Reconcavo Baiano, Rev. Bras. Frutic. 20 (3) (1998) 359-366.
Hamza, A.M., Helaly, M.N.M., Interaction between chlormequat (CCC) and gibberellin (GA3) on growth, flowering and mineral constituents of some ornamental plants, Acta Hortic. 137 (1983) 197-210. CrossRef
Mekers, O., De Proft, M., Prevention of unwanted flowering of ornamental Bromeliaceae by growth regulating chemicals, Acta Hortic. 137 (1983) 217-224. CrossRef
Cunha, G.A.P. da, Teste preliminar sobre o controle da floraç ao natural do abacaxizeiro, Rev. Bras. Frutic. 11 (3) (1989) 59-62.
Min, X.J., Bartholomew, D.P., Effects of growth regulators on ethylene production and floral initiation of pineapple, Acta Hortic. 334 (1993) 101-112. CrossRef
Min X.J., Physiological effects of environmental factors and growth regulators on floral initiation and development of pineapple [Ananas comosus (L.) Merr.], Univ. Hawaii, Thesis, Honolulu, USA, 1995, 111 p.
Scott, C.H., The effect of two plant growth regulators on the inhibition of precocious fruiting in pineapple, Acta Hortic. 334 (1993) 77-82. CrossRef
Das Biswas, S., Dhua, R.S., Mitra, S.K., Bose, T.K., Physiological studies on flowering of pineapple in response to chemicals and environment, Acta Hortic. 137 (1983) 231- 242. CrossRef
Maita A., Martnez T., Perez S., Nogueira J., Study on the floral induction, growth and development of pineapple, in: Subradrab- undhu S., Chairidchai P., Third Int. Pineapple Symp., Abstr., ISHS, Pattaya, Thailand, 1998, p. 20.
Rebolledo-Martínez, A., Uriza-Ávila, D., Aguirre-Gutiérez, L., Inhibición de la floración de la pi na con diferentes dosis de Fruitone CPA a dos densidades de siembra, Acta Hortic. 425 (1997) 347-354. CrossRef
Grossmann, K., Hauser, C., Sauerbrey, H., Fritsch, H., Schmitd, O., Jung, J., Plant growth retardant as inhibitors of ethylene production, J. Plant Physiol. 134 (1989) 538-543. CrossRef
Gowing, D.P., An hypothesis of the role of naphthaleneacetic acid in the flower induc- tion of pineapple, Am. J. Bot. 43 (1956) 411-418. CrossRef
Millar-Watt, D., Control of natural flowering in Smooth Cayenne pineapple, Ananas comosus (L.) Merr., Subtropica 2 (1981) 17-19.
Gowing, D.P., Leeper R.W., Studies on the relation of chemical structure to plant growth-regulator activity in the pineapple plant. I. Substituted phenyl and phenoxyalkylcarboxylic acids, Bot. Gaz. 121 (160) 143-151.
Taniguchi, G., Effect of tebuconazole on natural flower induction, Pineapple News 6 (1999) 11.
Rebolledo-Martínez, A., Uriza-Avila, D.E., Rebolledo, M.L., Rates of Fruitone CPA in different applications number during day versus night to flowering inhibition in pineapple, Acta Hortic. 529 (2000) 185-190. CrossRef
Rabie, E.C., Tustin, H.A., Wesson, K.T., Inhibition of natural flowering occurring during the winter months in `Queen' pineapple in Kwazulu Natal, South Africa, Acta Hortic. 529 (2000) 175-184. CrossRef