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Revista Brasileira de Fruticultura
On-line version ISSN 1806-9967
ANTUNES, Andréa Maria; ONO, Elizabeth Orika and SAMPAIO, Aloísio Costa. Effect of Paclobutrazol in the control of the natural flowering difference of 'Smooth Cayenne' pineapple plant. Rev. Bras. Frutic. [online]. 2008, vol.30, n.2, pp. 290-295. ISSN 1806-9967. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0100-29452008000200004.
The pineapple plant is a plant of great economical importance, however, its natural flowering causes serious problems, turning it difficult to manage it due to the fruit and harvest irregularity, elevating the production's cost. The objective of this work was to manipulate the pineapple flowering contributing indeed for a more uniform production on the market, during the months of lower offer. The Paclobutrazol was used in pineapple plants cv. Smooth Cayenne at concentrations of 100; 150 and 200 mg L-1 and applied in 2, 3 or 4 times, in Presidente Alves-SP. The experimental design was randomized blocks with 10 treatments and three replications, each experimental portion of 40 plants. In the period of 100 to 150 days after the first application of the treatments, the number of inflorescences present in the center of the plants were counted each week. All of the treatments involving Paclobutrazol were able to inhibit pineapple natural floral differentiation. The product is recommended to be used at a concentration of 150 mg L-1, applied twice, with a fifteen-day interval between applications, beginning in April.
Keywords : Ananas comosus var. comosus; flowering; growth inhibitor; vegetative growth.