ISHS Acta Horticulturae 822: VI International Pineapple Symposium
PINEAPPLE IN BRAZIL: CHARACTERISTICS, RESEARCH AND PERSPECTIVES |
| Authors: | A.P. de Matos, D.H. Reinhardt |
| Keywords: | Ananas comosus var. comosus, cultivars, integrated pineapple production, integrated pest management, safe fruit production |
| Abstract:
Brazil, the largest world pineapple producer in 2005 reached a volume of 2,292,470 t harvested from 61,790 hectares (FAO, 2007). Pineapple plays an important economic and social role in many micro regions, generating a significant number of jobs and expressive income for more than 18,000 producers and many other people involved in this business, mainly directed to the inland market. On the other side, fresh fruit exports have also increased recently, mostly due to investments of Del Monte Company in Northeast Brazil. The cultivar ‘Pérola’, native to Brazil, is grown in about 80% of the area, followed by ‘Smooth Cayenne’, ‘Jupi’, ‘MD-2’ and several local varieties mostly used in the Amazon Region. Strong research efforts have contributed to the significant progress of the Brazilian pineapple industry. The breeding program of Embrapa Cassava & Tropical Fruits has generated and evaluated many hybrids, two of them have recently been recommended for planting: ‘Imperial’ and ‘Vitória’, both showing good horticultural characteristics and resistance to fusariosis, the most serious pineapple disease in Brazil. Consumers’ demand for safe and high quality food has pushed for changes in the production systems. Led by the Brazilian Ministry for Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply, a program on integrated fruit production, including pineapple, has been carried out since 2000. Procedures directed to integrated pest management based upon strict monitoring of the main phytossanitary problems (fusariosis, fruit borer, mealybug associated wilt etc.), as well as to improve weed management and the nutritional status of the plants, have enabled reductions of the amounts of insecticides, fungicides and herbicides applied during the crop cycle, thus contributing to environmental protection, lower production costs and better fruit quality. Intensive training activities (courses, technical meetings, field days etc.) have proved to be effective by stimulating adoption of this production system by growers. | |
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