ISHS Acta Horticulturae 334: I International Pineapple Symposium
EFFECT OF SOIL MOISTURE POTENTIAL AND PLANT WEIGHT ON EARLY GROWTH OF PINEAPPLE [ANANAS COMOSUS (L.) MERR] |
| Authors: | P.E. Oleghe, M.O.A. Fawusi |
| Keywords: | Ananas comosus, Pineapple, critical soil moisture potential, Days to 50% sprout, Root initiation, Soil moisture stress |
| Abstract:
Scarcity of suitable planting materials limits economic and large scale production of pineapple in Nigeria. In this study, we investigated the effect of five moisture regimes (0.01, 0.02, 0.05 and 0.07 MPa) and three sizes of stump cuttings (20–25 g, 30–35 g, 40–45 g) as propagule on root initiation and growth of pineapple plantlets in greenhouse conditions during October 1990 - March 1991 and June - November 1991. Our aim was to determine the critical soil water potential and the best propagule weight for rapid multiplication of pineapple plantlets. Root initiation rate (RIR) in all plant weight except for larger weights (40–45 g) decreased from 0.01 MPa (stress-free) to 0.07 MPa (severe stress). Leaf area decreased sharply for all weights at different moisture regimes with a gradual decrease in total dry matter yield. Leaf number, D-leaf length and root length were significantly reduced at low soil moisture potential. The study indicated that 0.03 MPa and 0.05MPa were the critical soil moisture potential for root initiation and plantlet growth respectively. It also showed that heavier propagule favoured better root initiation and plantlet vigor. | |
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