Evaluation of Leaf Bud Cuttings from Different Sized Crowns for Rapid Propagation of Pineapple (Ananas Comosus L. [Merr.])

Abstract

Lack of planting material is one of the constraints of pineapple production. The work aimed at maximizing the number of plantlets by using rapid multiplication method of pineapple (Ananas comosus L. [Merr.]) var. 'Smooth Cayenne' using crown leaf bud cuttings was conducted for one year in Bonga under a plastic shade. Effect of size of crowns were evaluated on regeneration and propagation potential of shoots. ‘Smooth Cayenne’ pineapple cultivar which has less yearly propagation ability was used for the experiment. The experiment consisted leaf bud cuttings from small, medium and large sized crown. Each green leaf of the crown was carefully removed along with a small piece of the stem just under the bud and the remaining top was split vertically into four parts. The cuttings were dipped in a sodium hypochlorite solution for two minutes and then rinsed with sterile tap water followed by a fungicide dip and then transferred to planting pots filled with top soil. The design was CRD. The result revealed that size of crown had a significant effect on plantlet production, number of sprouted cuttings, plantlet height, plantlet leaf length, leaf width and plantlet diameter after four months of propagation time of the cuttings. Similarly, after one year of growing time; crowns size had significant effect on plantlet number, plantlet height and plantlet leaf length. Plantlet production was increased (1:32.6.) by using leaf bud cuttings from medium sized crown. A higher (33) mean value of sprouted cuttings were obtained by using medium sized crown leaf bud cuttings. Higher mean value of plantlet height, leaf length, leaf width and diameter was obtained by using medium sized crown leaf bud cuttings. After one year of growing time, equal and higher (32.4) number of plantlets were recorded from large and medium sized crown leaf bud cuttings. Generally, significant effect was not observed on survival status of the cuttings at both propagation periods. Using of medium and large sized crowns resulted in better plantlet growth and vigor. Therefore, based on the overall result of the experiment ‘Smooth Cayenne’ can be propagated rapidly by using leaf bud cuttings from medium-sized crown.

Key words: Smooth Cayenne, crown, leaf bud, cuttings, propagation, rapid, regeneration