Pineapple harvest index and fruit quality improvement by application of gibberellin and cytokinin

Abstract

Introduction. Gibberellin application alone in Lampung, Indonesia, has not been successful in overcoming the low harvest index of pineapple. Cytokinin is known to promote the allocation of assimilates to sink organs. The effect of gibberellin and cytokinin on the harvest index and fruit quality of pineapple was evaluated in this study. Materials and methods. Three levels of gibberellin (0, 100 and 200 ppm) combined with three levels of cytokinin (0, 24 and 48 ppm) were applied in the 12th and 14th weeks after flowering induction treatment. The experiment was conducted with the pineapple cv. Smooth Cayenne in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Harvest index and fruit quality analyses were carried out in fruits harvested during the 23rd week after flowering induction treatment. Results and discussion. Gibberellin alone (100 or 200 ppm) or combined with cytokinin (24 or 48 ppm) increased the fruit weight, harvest index and fruit crown length – a positive effect on the quality of this planting material – and delayed fruit maturity (5 days) of ‘Smooth Cayenne’ pineapple. Conclusion. Gibberellin and/or cytokinin improved some properties of the pineapple fruit quality. Treatment with 100 ppm of gibberellin combined with 24 ppm of cytokinin was the best treatment for improvement of the pineapple harvest index and fruit quality.