Shoot multiplication of 'HQC34' hybrid pineapple (Ananas comosus (L.) Merr.) via bioreactor with different concentrations of 6-benzylaminopurine and MS medium

Pineapple is an imperative crop containing high nutrition and economic value. New pineapple hybrid cultivar 'HQC34' has superb characteristics. It needs mass suckers for plantation. Conventional propagation provides fewer pineapple suckers and takes more time. A bioreactor is efficient for mass rapid shoot multiplication at lower cost. Previous results showed that high 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) concentration caused suckers to occur before flowering impacting small fruit. The aim of this research is to determine better potential concentration of BA combined with MS medium and economic analysis to increase 'HQC34' plantlets. A completely randomized design was used with seven treatments and two replications following as ½ MS + BAP 0.5 mg L^‑1, ½ MS + BAP 1 mg L^‑1, ½ MS + BAP 2 mg L^‑1, MS + BAP 0.5 mg L^‑1, MS + BAP 1 mg L^‑1, MS + BAP 1.5 mg L^‑1 and MS + BAP 2 mg L^‑1 as control. Ten young shoots per unit were used and fed 8 times daily for 5 min. Total number of shoots (TNS), height and classified number of shoots based on height (<1.0 cm, 1.0-1.5 cm, >1.5 cm) were measured after culture for 30 days. DMRT was used for mean difference analysis. The result showed that TNS and TNS (<1.0 cm) were significantly different. MS + BAP 1.5 mg L^‑1 promoted 119 shoots which was not significantly different from MS + BAP 2 mg L^‑1 giving 135 shoots. Moreover, the cost for MS + BAP 1.5 mg L^‑1 was US$ 36.36 whereas MS + BAP 2 mg L^‑1 costed US$ 36.34. MS + BAP 1.5 mg L^‑1 has potential for shoot multiplication and will be grown effectively in the field considering lower BAP concentration and cost.