Progress 10/01/99 to 09/30/05

Outputs
During the year 2000 two tissue culture plants of Cabezona pineapple cultivar were obtained from the National Germplasm Repository in Hawaii. Plants were propagated at the Tissue Culture Laboratory in Rio Piedras by Enid Lizardi and were identified as Ht-1, Ht-2. Plants were also collected from selected farms in Lajas. Fields were evaluated and screened to select fruits according to variety description. Crown tissue of this material was used for tissue culture propagation and was identified as I-A, I-B and I-C. In 2001, approximately 6,000 pineapple plantlets were produced from Lajas material and 9,000 from the Hawaii material. Results show that the treatments with BA and 2,4-D concentrations of 0.25 to 0.5 mg/l and 0.025 to 0.2 mg/l successively showed the best shoot production. Two field experiments of Cabezona pineapple were established in the Lajas Agricultural Substation during December 2002 using vegetative material produced by tissue culture technique. A complete randomized design was used with a planting distance of 0.45 m between plants in a single row and 1.86 m between rows. Experiments were in two different soil types: Mariana, the soil type where most of the commercial production of Cabezona is grown in Lajas, and Fraternidad, one of the most common soils in Lajas Valley. The experiments were managed according to the recommendations of the Agricultural Experiment Station-Technological Package for Pineapple Production, and the Agricultural Extension Service. Data of plant development and growth was recorded during all the growing cycle from 2003 to 2004. The information was recorded in three phases: phase I (transplant to flower induction); phase II (flower induction to harvest); and phase III (slips harvest and characterization). Most of the plants started flowering 45 days after induction, and fruits were harvested during June and July 2004. Results obtained show significant differences within the treatments in fruit characteristics, such as weight, brix, form, diameter and height in the two experiments. Also significant differences were observed regarding fruit crown characteristics and slip production. When fruit harvest was finished the 'mother' plants were conditioned for the second harvest (slips) that were used in the next experiments. The slips harvested were planted in two experiments at Lajas in order to evaluate the second generation (F2) of the material obtained by tissue culture technique, and to select the most promising Cabezona material. Complete randomized design was used with planting distance of 0.45 m between plants in a single row and 1.86 m between rows. Experiments were carried out in different soil types (Mariana and Fraternidad). The experiments were managed as the previous experiments. We are now recording the data in the new fields; therefore, results are not available at this moment.

Impacts
One of the most important problems in the production of Cabezona pineapple in Puerto Rico is the lack of availability of high quality vegetative seed for the establishment of future fields, a problem that limits the area that can be planted and the quality of the fruit obtained. The data recorded as a result of this research project will provide valuable information to the Cabezona growers in order to increase the planting area and improve the yield and quality of the pineapple produced.

Publications

• Aviles-Rodriguez,L.N. and Montalvo, 2000. Situacion actual y perspectivas del cultivo de pina Cabezona en Lajas. Annual Meeting of the Puertorrican Society of Agricultural Sciences, Caguas, P.R. November 16. Oral Report and Abstract.
• Lizardi, E., J. Escudero, L. Aviles, S. Martinez -Garrastazu and E. Rodriguez, 2002. Micropropagacion de pina 'Cabezona' [Ananas comosus (L.) Merr.] utilizando diferentes concentraciones de hormonas. Annual Meeting of the Puertorrican Society of Agricultural Sciences, Isabela, P. R. November 15.

Progress 01/01/04 to 12/31/04

Outputs
Two field experiments of "Cabezona" pineapple were planted at Lajas Agricultural Substation in December 2002. Vegetative material used for planning was produced by Mrs. Enid Lizardi in the Tissue Culture Laboratory facilities in Rio Piedras Agricultural Station. Pineapple plants were identified as Ht-1, Ht-2 (germplasm from Hawaii Plant Reservoir) and I-A, I-B (germplasm from the Victor Martinez farm in Lajas. Data was recorded during year 2004 in two "Cabezona" pineapple experiments established in Lajas Substation. The information recorded was about phase II of the experiment (from flowering induction to harvest), and included: 1) flowering time from induction; 2) harvest time; 3) fruit characteristics (weight, size, form, appearance and ph); 5) crown slip characteristics (number, size and appearance). Information was also recorded about phase III (slip harvest). The flowering induction was done by February 2, 2004, by using Ethrel at 1.5 quart per acre dose. Most of the plants started flowering at 45 days after induction. Harvest of fruits was conducted during June and July 2004. When it was finished, the mother plants were conditioned (including fertilization, pest and weed control) in order to be prepared for the second harvest (slips) that were going to be used in the next experiments (2004-2005). The slip harvesting was done during November 2004. By November 21 and 22, two new experiments were established in order to evaluate the second generation (F2) of the material obtained from tissue culture technique. Complete randomized design was used with planting distance of 0.45 m between plants in a single row and 1.86 m between rows. Experiments were located at two sites with different soil types: Mariana, the soil type where most of the commercial production of "Cabezona" is grown in Lajas; and Fraternidad, one of the most common soils in the Lajas Valley. General management of the experiments follows the recommendations of the Technological Package for Pineapple Production, and the recommendations made by the Agricultural Extension Service .

Impacts
One of the most important problems limiting the production of "Cabezona" pineapple in Puerto Rico is the availability of propagation material (vegetative). This project studies the viability of using tissue culture plants as propagative material. The data obtained in this research project will provide valuable information to the "Cabezona" farmers in order to improve economical fruit production.

Publications

• No publications reported this period

Progress 01/01/03 to 12/31/03

Outputs
During the year 2003 data were recorded in two Cabezona pineapple experiments established in Lajas Substation December 2002. Information about transplant resistance, plant height, plant diameter, number of leaves, plant vigor, foliage color and susceptibility to insects and diseases was recorded. Plant flowering induction will be done during the year 2004, and information will be recorded about the plants response to this management practice, and about their general development, fruit production and vegetative seed production. The material (vegetative seed) used for the establishment of these experiments was produced by Enid Lizardi at the Tissue Culture Laboratory facilities at the Rio Piedras Agricultural Station. Pineapple plants were identified as Ht-1, Ht-2 (germplasm from Hawaii Plant Reservoir) and I-A, I-B (germplasm from Victor Martinez farm in Lajas). A complete randomized design was used. Planting distance was 0.45 m p between plants in a single row and 1.86 m between rows. Experiments were planted in two different soil types, Mariana the soil type where most of the commercial Cabezona pineapple is grown in Lajas; and Fraternidad, one of the most common soils in the Lajas Valley. General management of the experiments is according to the recommendations of the Technological Package for Pineapple Production, and the recommendations made by the Agricultural Extension Service

Impacts
One of the most important problems limiting the production of Cabezona pineapple in Puerto Rico is the seed (vegetative) availability. The data obtained in this research project will provide valuable information to the Cabezona farmers in order to increase fruit production economically.

Publications

• No publications reported this period

Progress 01/01/02 to 12/31/02

Outputs
Two field experiments of "Cabezona" pineapple were planted at the Lajas Agricultural Substation during December 2002. Vegetative material used for planting was produced by Mrs. Enid Lizardi at the Tissue Culture Laboratory facilities in Rio Piedras Agricultural Station. Pineapple plants were identified as Ht-1, Ht-2 (germplasm from Hawaii Plant Reservoir) and I-A, I-B (germplasm from the Victor Martinez farm in Lajas). Plants were received in Lajas by October 2002 and placed in the greenhouse facilities for one month before their transplant to the field. Two growing containers were used, black trays of 70 cells (cell size 5.08 cm) and pots (15.24 cm wide and 10.16 cm deep). A complete randomized design was used in the experiments. Planting distance was 0.45 m between plants in a single row and 1.86 m between rows. Experiments were with two different soil types, Mariana series, the soil type of most of the commercial production of "Cabezona" located in Lajas, and Fraternidad series, one of the most common soil series in the Lajas Valley. General management of the experiment is done according to the recommendations of the "Conjunto Tecnologico para la Produccion de Pina", and the recommendations of made to the farmers by the Agricultural Extension Service agent in Lajas, Agro. Jose Montalvo. Data of the plants development and growth are being recorded during all the growing cycle.

Impacts
One of the most important problems limiting the production of "Cabezona" pineapple in Puerto Rico is the seed (vegetative) availability. The data obtained in this research project will provide valuable information to the "Cabezona" farmers in order for them to improve their production.

Publications

• Lizardi, E., J. Escudero, L. Aviles, S. Martinez-Garrastazu y E. Rodriguez, 2002. Micropropagacion de pina "Cabezona [Ananas comosus (L.) Merr.] utilizando diferentes concentraciones de hormonas. Reunion Cientifica Anual SOPCA. 15 de noviembre de 2002. Isabela, Puerto Rico.

Progress 01/01/01 to 12/31/01

Outputs
Approximately 16,000 pineapple plantlets (Annanas comusus L. Merr.) var. cabezona collection from selected farmers in Lajas, Puerto Rico and the USDA National Germplasm Repository were produced using tissue culture technique. About 6,000 pineapple plantlets were produced from the Lajas collection and 9,000 from the USDA Repository. The medium used for in vitro propagation was Murasige & Skoog (MS), basic formula supplemented with 0.1 mg/l of 2,4 dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) + 0.5 mg/l benzyl adenine (BA). Also apical and auxiliary meristem were cultured in MS, basic medium, supplemented with growth regulators (2,4-D and BA) in different concentrations. Preliminary results indicated that the treatments with BA and 2,4-D concentrations between 0.25-0.5 mg/l and 0.025 - 0.2 mg/l successively showed the best shoot production.

Impacts
As soon as selected Cabezona pineapple seed become available to farmers, production will increase by an estimated 25 percent, which will represent better conditions for farming in terms of more yield and uniform fruits.

Publications

• No publications reported this period

Progress 01/01/00 to 12/31/00

Outputs
Two tissue culture plants of Cabezona pineapple cultivar were obtained from the National Germplasm Repository. Plants are been propagated at the Tissue Culture Laboratory at Rio Piedras Center. Plants from selected farms were collected and crown tissue was used to tissue culture propagation. Pineapple fields were evaluated and screened to select fruits according to variety description. A farmers survey shows that 23 farmers full time and 10 part time produced 175 acres of Cabezona at Lajas area with a farm value of $0.75 million. Their main problems are: Seed production quality and quantity, Horticultural practices, and land competition for others uses as housing and development.

Impacts
As soon as selected Cabezona pinepple seed will become available to farmers production will increase by an estimated 25 percent, which will represent better conditions for farming.

Publications

• Aviles-Rodriguez, L.N. and Montalvo, J.. Situacion actual y perspectivas del cultivo de pina Cabezona en Lajas. Oral Report and Abstract of Memorias de la Reunion Anual de la Sociedad Puertorriquena de Ciencias Agricolas, Caguas P.R. November, 16, 2000.

Progress 01/01/99 to 12/31/99

Outputs
A request for pineaple, Cabezona cultivar, was filed with the National Germplasm Repository to obtain Cabezona material for Objective 1 procedure. A meeting with Cabezona producers was held to inform and obtain information regarding cultivar and horticultural practices. Cabezona farm census was initiated and cultivar material will be collected to conduct laboratory procedures for cultivar identification. Materials and equipment have been purchased for laboratory procedures.

Impacts
(N/A)

Publications

• No publications reported this period