FLOWERING INDUCTION AND YIELD OF PINEAPPLE CV SMOOTH CAYENNE

The experiment was carried out in Porto Lucena, RS, Brazil, aiming at evaluating the effect of the induction of flowering of pineapple plants Ananas comosus (L.) Merr. cv. Smooth Cayenne at differente ages on yield and fruit size. The planting was performed in April, 1988, using slips weighing 200 g., in double rows with spacing of 0,90 x 0,40 x 0,45 m (34.180 plants/ha). The experimental design was a randomized block with four treatments (plants with 19, 20, 21 and 22 months of age after planting) and four replicates, using 20 plants/plot. As flowering agent, 50 cc solution of 20 ml of Ethephon plus 200 g urea/10 l water were used. Results showed no differences among treatments on flowering percentage, mean fruit weight, with and without crown, yield, fruit length and basal, medium and apex diameter. Crown weight decreased as flower inductions was delayed.