Effect of the Type and Size of Planting Material on the Vigour of the Subsequent Plants, Yield and Quality in Kew Pineapple [Ananas Comosus (L.) Merr.]*

A trial was laid out at the Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Hessaraghatta, Bangalore in October 1970 to compare various types and sizes of planting materials namely crowns, slips (5 size grades) and suckers (5 size grades). The results have shown superiority of slips and suckers as planting material in comparison to crowns. Both in suckers and slips, larger planting material resulted in more vigorous plants. Neither too big nor too small, slips or suckers resulted in more flowering, and the larger grade material in a more staggered flowering period. Smaller the size of slips or suckers, earlier was the fruit maturity. Slips yielded better quality fruits and the yields were at par with the highest yield obtained with the largest suckers. Of the three types tested, crowns resulted in the least vigorous plants and poor yield, but in fruits of good quality, as good as in the slips. The best planting material was how ever, found to be slips ranging from 300–450 gm in weight.