PINEAPPLE BREEDING FOR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT IN SOUTH VIETNAM

Systematic research for cultivar improvement was initiated at the Southern Fruit Research Institute (SOFRI), Vietnam. Initially, priority was given to field collection of local and introduced pineapple cultivars and to characterizing and evaluating available genetic resources. Four local ‘Queen’ pineapple cultivars were selected viz., ‘CDD-11.55.01’, ‘CDD-12.55.02’, ‘CDD-33.55.03’, and ‘CDD-27.55.04’ with better fruit quality, high yield capacity and adaptability to the acid sulfate soil of Mekong Delta. A follow up breeding program put emphasis on fruit cylinder shape, large size, shallow eye and eating quality using ‘Cayenne TL2’ × ‘Queen III-1’, ‘Cayenne TL2’ × ‘Queen II-6’, ‘Cayenne GU114’ × ‘Queen II-6’. Several hybrid plants were planted and screened in the field. Among these, three were better in terms of fruit cylinder shape, fruit weight (1500-1760 g), total soluble solids (18.4-19.4%), and edible portion (56.3-75.4%); the flesh color was intermediate yellow to yellow. The advances obtained from this breeding work are being evaluated as suitable cultivars for local and processing markets.