Department of Horticulture, School of Agricultural Sciences, Nagaland University, Medziphema Campus797106, Nagaland, India
*Corresponding author email: csmaiti@nagalanduniversity.ac.in
Pineapple cultivation faces challenges of seasonal market gluts and limited year-round availability in northeastern India. This study evaluated the impact of twelve-monthly staggered planting schedules (November 2022 to October 2023) on fruit physiological and biochemical quality attributes in Giant Kew pineapple variety grown under sub-tropical foothill conditions. Suckers were planted at uniform spacing (30 cm × 60 cm × 90 cm) in randomized block design with three replications. Results demonstrated significant variations in flowering initiation (12-17 months after planting), fruit morphology, and biochemical composition across planting months. April planting (T6) produced maximum flowering initiation (99.30%), highest total sugar content (11.08%), and optimal TSS:Acid ratio (42.29). May planting (T7) yielded superior fruit volume (1194.10 cc), diameter (13.86 cm), and TSS (17.03°brix). March planting (T5) recorded maximum reducing sugar (6.74%). Biochemical analysis revealed that plantings from January to may accumulated significantly higher sugars, TSS, and Vitamin-C content compared to monsoon and post-monsoon plantings. Staggered planting from January to may offers dual benefits of enhanced fruit quality parameters and extended market availability, providing stable income opportunities for growers while meeting consumer demand throughout the year.
Flowering regulation, Fruit quality, Market distribution, Multiple planting dates, Pineapple production, TSS content
