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{{DISPLAYTITLE:''Ananas comosus'' (PROSEA)}}
[[File:Ananas comosus PROSEA linedrawing.tif|thumb| habit of plant]]
<big>''[[Ananas comosus]]'' (L.) Merr.</big>
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:Protologue: Interpr. Herb. amboin.: 133 (1917).
Growers in Malaysia remove the crown on the fruit of "Singapore Spanish" when it is about 5 cm long. At the same time, slips below the fruit are broken off, leaving two as planting material. For "Smooth Cayenne" this is not necessary as the crown does not grow very large and there are few slips to compete with fruit growth. When growing pineapple for the fresh fruit market, it may be desirable to reduce the size of the crown rather than remove it. This is done by gouging the meristematic tissues of the crown with a sharp implement when it is about 8 cm long in order to retard its growth.
The importance of fertilizers, especially nitrogen and potassium, in pineapple culture is well known. Nitrogen is required for vigorous plant growth but not when flower induction is contemplated because vigorous growth reduces flowering response. Phosphorus is needed during the first few months of growth while potassium is needed for fruit development. In the nutrient-deficient peat soils of Malaysia the recommended rates are 14 g N, 0.7 g P<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub>and 23 g K<sub>2</sub>O per plant, given as a broadcast three months after planting and two foliar sprays at 6 and 9 months. For ratoon crops, two-thirds of the above levels are applied per year. In Thailand where the crop is grown on sandy loam, the rates are 9 g N, 2.4 g P<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub> and 7 g K<sub>2</sub>O per plant for a plant crop. This is applied as one basal dressing, two leaf axil dressings, five foliar sprays and two urea applications, the latter combined with the flower induction treatments. The rates for the first ratoon crop are 6.5 g N and 6.3 g K<sub>2</sub>O per plant.
Malaysia used to practise continuous cropping as it was not economical to replant, since mechanical clearing of the field after each crop is not possible on peat. The use of herbicides like paraquat and glyphosate to scorch the leaves of the ratoon crop, so they can be burnt 3-9 weeks later, has made replanting more economical. Burning may not be necessary in some cases and new plantings can be started once the leaves of the old plants dry up; the plant residue is left to decompose in the field. Currently many growers replant after the first crop. Pineapple fields in Thailand produce 2 crops, the plant crop plus a single ratoon crop.
* Wee, Y.C. & Rao, A.N., 1979. Development of the inflorescence and "crown" of Ananas comosus after treatment with acetylene, NAA and ethephon. American Journal of Botany 66: 351-360.
== Sources of illustrations ==
Koorders, S.H., 1922. Exkursionsflora von Java. Blütenpflanzen. Band 4. Atlas. 2. Abteilung. Jena, Gustar Fischer Verlag. p. 211, Fig. 419. Redrawn and adapted by P. Verheij Hayes.
== Authors ==
*Y.C. Wee & M.L. Charuphant Thongtham
[[Category:Fruits and nuts (PROSEA)]]
[[Category:PROSEA]]