Plant age and its influence in the flowering induction and yield of pineapple cultivar

Abstract

An experiment was carried out on a Regosol soil at Quiçamã, RJ, Brazil, to study the influence of calcium carbide on the flowering induction of 'Smooth Cayenne' pineapple cultivar. The treatments were applied to seven, eight, nine and ten-month old plants, in a completely randomized block design, with four replications. Results showed significant differences among treatments, related to weight and lenght of fruits. Plants induced seven, eight and nine months after planting produced smaller and lighter fruit than those that flowered naturally. No significant difference was found in relation to fruit total acidity.