SLIP PRODUCTION OF MD-2 HYBRID PINEAPPLE BY THREE METHODS: GAULLIN, LEAF PRUNING AND A GROWTH REGULATOR

Pineapple hybrid MD-2 currently shows the greatest demand among the different available cultivars. For this reason, the pineapple industry in Mexico is interested in changing its varieties to gain competitiveness in the international market. Even though the sudden change of pineapple variety implies an increased earning, it also poses a threat for pests and diseases that could affect the crop development and the regional economy. The objective of this work was to evaluate several methods of MD-2 multiplication, in order to obtain greater production of suckers, which will allow the producers to satisfy the demand of propagation material of this hybrid and to reduce to deficit of suckers. The study was conducted in the Papaloapan Research Station of INIFAP at Isla, Veracruz, Mexico. Evaluated factors were a) Apical meristem destruction (AMD) and integer apical meristem (IAM); b) Use of Ciclanilide plus Ethefon with three levels (0,0, 3,0 and 6,0 L/ha^-1) and c) Plant pruning with three levels (no pruning, slight pruning and severe pruning). Results showed that the production of suckers greater than 30cm and 200g in weight per plant, at 150 days after the application of AMD treatment, surpassed the IAM treatment in 89% of the cases, with values of 3,8 and 0,42 suckers per plant respectively. It was concluded that the best treatment was the apical meristem destruction with the application of 3 L/ha^-1 of ciclanilide plus ethefon and without pruning.