Abstract

MARTINEZ, Andrés Rebolledo; DEL ANGEL-PEREZ, Ana Lid; BECERRIL-ROMAN, Alberto E  and  MARTINEZ, Laureano Rebolledo. Growth analysis for three pineapple cultivars grown on plastic mulch and bare soil. INCI [online]. 2005, vol.30, n.12, pp.758-763. ISSN 0378-1844.

In order to determine the growth behavior of three pineapple cultivars (Ananas comosus var. comosus) grown on soil with and without plastic mulch and bare soil, an experiment was established in Veracruz State, México. The annual rainfall was 1200mm, the annual average temperature 23ºC and the altitude of 50masl. The experimental design was in randomized blocks with four replications in a split plot; the treatments were plastic mulch and bare soil, and in each one the cultivars ‘Champaka’, ‘Oro’ and ‘Smooth Cayenne’ were evaluated. Dry mass accumulation and foliar area of the plants were determined at eight different dates during the production cycle and the relative growth rate (RGR), unit leaf ratio (ULR), leaf area ratio (LAR), and leaf area index (LAI) were estimated. Plants grown on soil with plastic mulch cover were superior to those grown on bare soil for foliage dry mass production, leaf area and LAI, presenting higher RGR, ULR and lower LAR. Plants of the ‘Oro’ cultivar showed higher RGR and ULR during the vegetative phase in relation to the other cultivars, but lower ones than ‘Smooth Cayenne’ plants during the reproductive phase. ‘Champaka’ had an intermediate behavior. There were no significant differences among the cultivars in relation to lead dry mass production, leaf area and LAI

Keywords : Ananas comosus var; comosus ; Cultivars ; Growth Rate ; Plastic Mulch .