Pineapple
Pineapple (Ananas comosus) is an important fruit crop in India. Originated in Brazil, it has spread to other tropical parts of the world. A good source of vitamins A and B, pineapple is fairly rich in vitamins C, calcium, magnesium, potassium and iron. It is also a source of bromelin, a digestive enzyme.
The cultivation of pineapple is confined to high rainfall and humid coastal regions in the peninsular India and hilly areas of north-eastern region of the country. It can also be grown commercially in the interior plains with medium rainfall and supplementary protective irrigations. At present pineapple is grown commercially in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram, West Bengal, Kerala, Karnataka and Goa, and on a small scale in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.
Climate and Soil
The pineapple is a crop of humid tropics. The fruit grows well near the sea coast as well as in the interior, so long as the temperatures are not extreme. The optimum temperature for successful cultivation is 22°–32°C. Leaves and roots grow best at 32°C and 29°C respectively. Their growth ceases below 20°C and above 36°C. A high temperature at night is deleterious and a difference of at least 4°C between day and night temperature is desirable. It can be grown up to 1,100m above mean sea-level, if the area is frost-free. Although optimum annual rainfall for its commercial cultivation is 100–150cm, it grows remarkably well under a wide range of rainfall. In areas where the rainfall is less, supplementary protective irrigations are necessary during dry season.
The plants come up well in any type of soil except on very heavy clay soil. Sandy loam soils are ideal. The soil should be 45–60cm in depth without hard pan or stones. Low-lying areas with high watertable should be avoided. The plants prefer a soil pH of 5.0–6.0.
Varieties
Kew
It is a leading commercial variety valued particularly for canning. Its fruits are big-sized (1.5–2.5kg), oblong and tapering slightly towards the crown. The fruit with broad and shallow eyes becomes yellow when fully ripe. The flesh is light yellow, almost fibreless and very juicy. The leaves often have a short sector of small margin of spines just behind the tip, and irregularly on the base near its attachment to the stem.
Giant Kew
Cultivated in certain regions of West Bengal, it is synonymous to Kew except the size of plant and fruit which are larger than Kew as the name signifies.
Charlotte Rothchild
It is partially cultivated in Kerala and Goa. The fruit is similar in taste and other characters to that of Kew.
Queen
Widely grown in Tripura, and partly in Assam and Meghalaya, its fruits are rich yellow in colour, weighing 0.9–1.3kg each. The flesh is deep golden-yellow, less juicy than Kew, crisp textured with a pleasant aroma and flavour. Eyes are small and deep, requiring a thicker cut when removing the skin. The leaves are brownish-red, shorter and very spiny.
Mauritious
A mid-season variety of the Queen group, it is grown in some parts of Kerala. Medium in size, its fruits are deep yellow and red. Yellow fruits are oblong, fibrous and medium sweet compared with red ones. This is ideal for table purposes.
Jaldhup and Lakhat
These are 2 indigenous types grown in Assam, both being named after the place of their production. Both are under Queen group with fruits smaller than Queen. Lakhat is markedly sour in taste, whereas Jaldhup has its sweetness well- blended with acidity. The fruits of Jaldhup again have a characteristic alcoholic flavour of their own and can be easily distinguished from other fruits of the Queen group on the basis of this character alone.
Pineapple (Ananas comosus) is an important fruit crop in India. Originated in Brazil, it has spread to other tropical parts of the world. A good source of vitamins A and B, pineapple is fairly rich in vitamins C, calcium, magnesium, potassium and iron. It is also a source of bromelin, a digestive enzyme.
The cultivation of pineapple is confined to high rainfall and humid coastal regions in the peninsular India and hilly areas of north-eastern region of the country. It can also be grown commercially in the interior plains with medium rainfall and supplementary protective irrigations. At present pineapple is grown commercially in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram, West Bengal, Kerala, Karnataka and Goa, and on a small scale in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.
Climate and Soil
The pineapple is a crop of humid tropics. The fruit grows well near the sea coast as well as in the interior, so long as the temperatures are not extreme. The optimum temperature for successful cultivation is 22°–32°C. Leaves and roots grow best at 32°C and 29°C respectively. Their growth ceases below 20°C and above 36°C. A high temperature at night is deleterious and a difference of at least 4°C between day and night temperature is desirable. It can be grown up to 1,100m above mean sea-level, if the area is frost-free. Although optimum annual rainfall for its commercial cultivation is 100–150cm, it grows remarkably well under a wide range of rainfall. In areas where the rainfall is less, supplementary protective irrigations are necessary during dry season.
The plants come up well in any type of soil except on very heavy clay soil. Sandy loam soils are ideal. The soil should be 45–60cm in depth without hard pan or stones. Low-lying areas with high watertable should be avoided. The plants prefer a soil pH of 5.0–6.0.
Varieties
Kew
It is a leading commercial variety valued particularly for canning. Its fruits are big-sized (1.5–2.5kg), oblong and tapering slightly towards the crown. The fruit with broad and shallow eyes becomes yellow when fully ripe. The flesh is light yellow, almost fibreless and very juicy. The leaves often have a short sector of small margin of spines just behind the tip, and irregularly on the base near its attachment to the stem.
Giant Kew
Cultivated in certain regions of West Bengal, it is synonymous to Kew except the size of plant and fruit which are larger than Kew as the name signifies.
Charlotte Rothchild
It is partially cultivated in Kerala and Goa. The fruit is similar in taste and other characters to that of Kew.
Queen
Widely grown in Tripura, and partly in Assam and Meghalaya, its fruits are rich yellow in colour, weighing 0.9–1.3kg each. The flesh is deep golden-yellow, less juicy than Kew, crisp textured with a pleasant aroma and flavour. Eyes are small and deep, requiring a thicker cut when removing the skin. The leaves are brownish-red, shorter and very spiny.
Mauritious
A mid-season variety of the Queen group, it is grown in some parts of Kerala. Medium in size, its fruits are deep yellow and red. Yellow fruits are oblong, fibrous and medium sweet compared with red ones. This is ideal for table purposes.
Jaldhup and Lakhat
These are 2 indigenous types grown in Assam, both being named after the place of their production. Both are under Queen group with fruits smaller than Queen. Lakhat is markedly sour in taste, whereas Jaldhup has its sweetness well- blended with acidity. The fruits of Jaldhup again have a characteristic alcoholic flavour of their own and can be easily distinguished from other fruits of the Queen group on the basis of this character alone.
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