Effect of paclobutrazol on fruiting characteristics of pineapple [Ananas comosus (L.) MERR.] cv. Mauritius

Abstract

Pineapple [Ananas comosus (L.) Merr.] is one of the most commercially important fruit crops and belong to the family Bromeliaceae. In pineapple, flowering behaviour is not regularly observed and sometimes even after 18 months of planting only 50% of the flowering may occur and unnecessary delay may be observed. Paclobutrazol (PBZ), plant growth retardant which belong to triazole group, inhibits gibberellin biosynthesis and has been effectively used to induce and manipulate flowering, fruiting in several perennial fruit crops. To evaluate effect of paclobutrazol on flowering characteristics of Pineapple cv. Mauritius, the present experiment was conducted in instructional farm of Pomology and Post-harvest Technology, UBKV, Pundibari during 2016-2018. Paclobutrazol (PBZ) concentrations ranging from 100ppm to 300ppm were used in seven different treatments. Highest yield including crown (42.73t/ha) was recorded in the treatment T2 compared with the control (36.78t/ha). Highest fruit weight with crown was also recorded in the same treatment.