Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Fig. 12.4.
Effect of mean irradiance from planting to harvest on average fruit weight,
and mean irradiation 2 weeks prior to harvest on fruit juice titratable acidity and
total soluble solids (TSS) of 'Smooth Cayenne' pineapple fruit grown in the Ivory
Coast.
plant size is necessary before natural fl owering will occur, and cool night
temperatures apparently enhance the ef ects of short days (Bartholomew
et
al.
, 2003).
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS
Stem
The stem of a mature 'Smooth Cayenne' plant is 30-35 cm long and club-
shaped, with the thickest diameter being 5-8 cm just below the apex.
Internodes are short, ranging from 1 to 10 mm, with the middle region of
the stem having the longer internodes. There is an axillary bud at each node
(Krauss, 1949). Adventitious roots grow through the epidermis and vary in
length from a few millimetres near the top of the stem to several centimetres
at its base. Axillary buds can produce shoots, typically called suckers in the
industry, which are the source of a second or ratoon crop. Suckers may be
retained on the mother plant or they may be harvested for use as planting
material. Such harvesting is a relatively costly operation because the shoots
must be cut from the mother-plant stem. Suckers harvested for use as
