ISHS Acta Horticulturae 822: VI International Pineapple Symposium
'VITÓRIA': NEW PINEAPPLE CULTIVAR RESISTANT TO FUSARIOSIS |
| Authors: | J.A. Ventura, H. Costa, J.R.S. Cabral, A.P. de Matos |
| Keywords: | Ananas comosus var. comosus, disease, Fusarium, control, genetic resistance |
| Abstract:
Among the problems that limit pineapple production in Brazil, fusariosis due to the fungus Fusarium subglutinans f.sp. ananas (Syn.: F. guttiforme), is the most serious one causing yield losses estimated from 30% to 40% of marketable fruits, and 20% of planting material (slips and suckers). The main commercial cultivars grown in Brazil, ‘Pérola’ and ‘Smooth Cayenne’, are both susceptible to fusariosis. Control of this disease is based on the integration of cultural practices and spraying fungicides from the early stages of inflorescence development until the closure of the last flower. Growing resistant varieties is certainly the most economic, efficient and environmentally safe control measure. In this work, crosses between the pineapple cv. Primavera (PRI), as female parental, and the cv. Smooth Cayenne (SC), as the male parental, enabled the creation of hundreds of hybrids by the Brazilian pineapple breeding program coordinated by Embrapa Cassava & Tropical Fruits. After preliminary evaluations under controlled conditions, some promising hybrids were introduced to the Experimental Farms of Incaper, where a Recurrent Clonal Selection of the hybrid PRI × SC-08 was carried out during the past 10 years, originating the Incaper access EC-099, that gave rise to the cv. Vitória, released to growers at the Sooretama Experimental Farm of Incaper, Sooretama-ES, in November 2006. Based on evaluations carried out in several regions of Espírito Santo State (Marataízes, João Neiva, Cachoeiro do Itapemirim and Sooretama), the new cultivar confirmed its resistance to fusariosis, showed better quality fruits and agronomic characteristics similar to the reference cultivars ‘Pérola’ and ‘Smooth Cayenne’. ‘Vitória’ has spineless leaves, a characteristic that makes it easier to carry out manual cultural practices. Its fruit presents a cylindrical shape, a yellow skin when ripe, a weight of about 1.5 kg and firm pulp with a high sugar content (15,8°Brix), intermediate acidity and excellent flavor as shown by sensorial analyses. It is suitable for both fresh consumption and processing. The resistance to fusariosis avoids several fungicide applications reducing production costs and risks of negative environmental impact. This new cultivar has been multiplied by production of in vitro plants and released mainly to farmers in the State of Espírito Santo. Based upon crop management similar to that used by small growers for ‘Pérola’ and ‘Smooth Cayenne’ crops in that State it is estimated that pineapple yield may increase from about 21 t/ha to more than 42 t/ha. | |
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