**Portblair, Andaman.
University College of Agriculture, Calcutta University, 35, Ballygunge Circular’ Road, Calcutta-100019.
*Present Address: Horticulturist, Regional Research Institute, O.U.A.T., P. O. Chiplima 768026, Sambalpur (Orissa).
At Baruipur, near Calcutta, an experiment was carried out between 1974 and 1978, to determine the optimum planting density of cv. Queen, consisting of three spacings (such as 43036 (D1) 57383 (D2), 63758 (D3) of plants per hectare). It has been observed that D1 has shown higher index in growth characters, percentage of survival and flowering, sucker and slip production per plant, yield attributes of individual fruits in both main and ratoon crop than in D2 and D3. But if it is calculated per hectare basis then D3 treatment gave highest yield (actual 34.02, computed 49.22 tonnes with crown) and more sucker and slip production in the main crop, due to more population. The fruit quality of D3 was also superior over D2 and D1 in total sugar and total soluble solid but lower in Vitamin C and acidity content. In the ratoon crop, similar trend has been observed. It can be concluded that the higher planting density (D3) may be recommended because of more yield with more sucker and slip production per unit area with good quality of fruits. It can be also cultivated in the plains of south Bengal for getting good price to feed the Calcutta market.
