Introduction to Pineapple Botany

Introduction to Pineapple

• Pineapple (Ananas comosus) is a tropical plant, a multiple fruit consisting of coalesced berries.
• It's highly valued economically within the Bromeliaceae family.
• Cultivated fresh or processed, often from a crown cutting.
• Flowering occurs 20-24 months after cutting and fruiting 6 months later.

Origin and Morphology

• Believed to originate in South America, specifically central and southern Brazil, northern Argentina, and Paraguay.
• Native South Americans domesticated the fruit.
• The plant's morphology includes a crown, leaves, stem, and roots adapted for water conservation.

Parts of Pineapple

• Leaves: Long, sword-shaped, arranged in a spiral rosette, tough and waxy with spiky edges for defense against herbivores.
• Roots: Fibrous root system, relatively shallow and horizontal.
• Stem: Compact structure at the center of the leaf rosette (the crown); develops into the fruit.
• Crown: The leafy top of the pineapple, cut off for consumption or propagation with ease.
• Slips: Fruit-like crowns on the fruit peduncle; used for propagation.

Floral Biology

• Floral Structure: Produces a single flower cluster or inflorescence of 50-200 individual flowers arranged spirally around a central stalk.
• Flowers: Typically purple-blue, tubular flowers common in Bromeliaceae.
• Flower Composition: Each flower composed of three sepals, three petals, six stamens, and a central pistil with an ovary.

Flowering and Fruit Development

• Flowering period takes around 18-24 months.
• Fruit grows from suckers and takes a year to year and a half.
• Flowering stage called "red heart" characterized by red bracts at the stem base.
• Controlled by photoperiod, temperature, and plant age.

Pollination Mechanism

• Pineapple flowers are protandrous (male parts mature before female).
• This reduces self-pollination, encouraging cross-pollination.
• Pollination often done by hummingbirds or bats.
• Artificial pollination often used in commercial production to eliminate seed formation.

Reproductive Adaptations

• Adaptations for water conservation: tightly packed flowers and rosette leaves.
• Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) photosynthesis, allowing CO2 fixation at night for water conservation.

Pineapple Production

• Northern Mindanao is the top producer of pineapples in the Philippines.
• SOCCSKSARGEN and Bicol regions are also significant producers.
• Philippines is a top pineapple exporting country (second after Thailand)

Breeding Procedure

• Pineapples are typically propagated asexually from suckers or slips.
• Researchers use cross-pollination to create new varieties with desirable traits (disease resistance, better fruit quality).
• The resulting hybrid seeds are then planted to produce new pineapple plants.

Important Stages

• Plant selection (genotypes)
• Pollination
• Seed germination
• Inoculation
• Field evaluation

Pollination Method

• Pollen collection during anthesis (early morning).
• Flower removal from the inflorescence.
• Pollen storage in cool, dry containers.
• Hand-pollination methods.
• Using brushes or swabs to transfer pollen.

Pollination Stages

• Observing flower changes for successful pollination.
• Monitoring emerging fruit for successful pollination.

Seed Germination

• Very small seeds (5mm long by 2mm wide).
• Seeds are slow and irregular to germinate (12-14 days).
• Takes 40-60 days to mature into a seedling.

Inoculation Method

• Hybridization: Cross-pollination to create desired traits.
• Grafting: Joining a shoot to a rootstock.

Field Evaluation

• Assessing the characteristics from 20 to 80cm height.
• Measuring plant height, peduncle length and diameter, suckers.
• Checking fruit weight, shape, color, diameter of fruit core, seeds, overall acidity and soluble solids.

Explore the fascinating botanical aspects of the pineapple (Ananas comosus), a tropical plant treasured for its unique morphology and economic value. This quiz covers its origin, parts, and cultivation processes, providing insight into the biological and ecological significance of this popular fruit.