🍍 Pineapple (Ananas comosus L.) –

Particular	Answer
Scientific Name	Ananas comosus (L.) Merr.
Family	Bromeliaceae
Chromosome Number	2n = 50
Fruit Type	Multiple Fruit (Sorosis) ⭐⭐⭐
Edible Portion	Fused ovaries, bracts and axis (inflorescence)
Pollination	Mostly self-sterile; commercial cultivation is vegetative
Propagation	Suckers, Slips, Crowns
Economic Life	4–6 years

Particular	Answer
Centre of Origin	Brazil–Paraguay region (South America)
Introduced in India	By the Portuguese

Parameter	Requirement
Climate	Tropical
Optimum Temperature	22–32°C
Rainfall	1000–1500 mm
Altitude	Up to 1000 m

Parameter	Requirement
Soil Type	Well-drained sandy loam or loam
Soil pH	4.5–6.5 ⭐
Drainage	Essential; waterlogging is harmful

Particular	Recommendation
Planting Season	June–September
Spacing	60 × 30 cm or 90 × 30 cm
Plant Population	44,000–53,000 plants/ha
Propagation	Suckers (best), Slips, Crowns

Chemical	Purpose
Ethephon ⭐⭐⭐	Uniform flowering
Ethylene	Flower induction
Calcium Carbide	Flower induction (used carefully)

Disease	Causal Organism
Heart Rot ⭐⭐⭐	Phytophthora spp.
Base Rot	Ceratocystis paradoxa
Fruit Rot	Penicillium spp.
Leaf Spot	Various fungi

Pest	Scientific Name
Mealybug ⭐⭐⭐	Dysmicoccus brevipes
Scale Insect	Diaspis bromeliae
Nematode	Meloidogyne spp.

Disorder	Cause
Sun Scald	High temperature
Fruit Cracking	Irregular irrigation
Multiple Crowns	Genetic/environmental factors

Particular	Recommendation
Bearing Starts	15–18 months
Harvesting Stage	25–30% shell colour change (for distant markets)
Harvesting Method	Cut fruit with a portion of stalk

Type	Yield
Average Yield	40–60 t/ha
Good Management	70–80 t/ha

Parameter	Recommendation
Storage Temperature	7–10°C
Relative Humidity	85–90%
Storage Life	2–3 weeks

Operation	Purpose
Washing	Remove dirt
Grading	Uniform quality
Packaging	Corrugated Fibre Board (CFB) boxes
Cold Storage	Extend shelf life

Variety	Special Feature
Kew ⭐⭐⭐	Processing variety, large fruits
Queen ⭐⭐⭐	Table purpose, sweet fruits
Mauritius	Commercial cultivar
Giant Kew	Large fruits
MD-2	Export quality, excellent shelf life

Institute	Location
ICAR-Central Plantation Crops Research Institute (CPCRI)	Kasaragod, Kerala
ICAR-IIHR	Bengaluru
ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region	Meghalaya

Particular	Answer
Largest Producer	Costa Rica (major exporter); India is among the leading producers
Major Producing States in India	West Bengal, Assam, Tripura, Meghalaya, Kerala, Karnataka
Largest Exporter	Costa Rica

Term	Meaning
Sorosis ⭐⭐⭐	Multiple fruit formed from an entire inflorescence
Slip	Shoot arising below the fruit
Sucker	Shoot arising from the stem
Crown	Leafy top of the fruit used for propagation
CAM Plant ⭐⭐⭐	Crassulacean Acid Metabolism plant

Question	Answer
Scientific Name	Ananas comosus
Family	Bromeliaceae
Fruit Type	Sorosis (Multiple Fruit)
Origin	Brazil–Paraguay
Introduced in India by	Portuguese
Best Propagation	Suckers
Major Disease	Heart Rot
Major Pest	Mealybug
Flower Induction Chemical	Ethephon
Commercial Variety	Kew
Table Variety	Queen
Soil pH	4.5–6.5
Bearing Starts	15–18 months
Storage Temperature	7–10°C
Major Producing State	West Bengal
Research Institute	ICAR-CPCRI

Question	Answer
Scientific name of pineapple	Ananas comosus
Family of pineapple	Bromeliaceae
Fruit type	Sorosis
Best propagation material	Suckers
Flower induction chemical	Ethephon
Major disease	Heart Rot
Major pest	Mealybug
Processing variety	Kew
Table variety	Queen
Soil pH suitable for pineapple	4.5–6.5

Topic	Remember
Scientific Name	Ananas comosus
Family	Bromeliaceae
Fruit Type	Sorosis (Multiple Fruit)
Origin	Brazil–Paraguay
Propagation	Suckers
Flower Induction	Ethephon
Major Disease	Heart Rot
Major Pest	Mealybug
Best Variety for Processing	Kew
Best Table Variety	Queen
Soil pH	4.5–6.5
Major Research Institute	ICAR-CPCRI, Kasaragod
Major Producing State (India)	West Bengal