INFLUENCE OF SMOKE AND ETHYLENE ON THE FRUITING OF THE PINEAPPLE (ANANAS SATIVUS SHULT)

Abstract

1. The experiments using smoke on pineapple plants in the field confirm the results obtained in practice by certain growers in Puerto Rico. The use of this process in the field resulted in a general flowering of all plants and early fruit production. 2: There was no relation between the quantity of smoke used and the response of plants. This indicates a wide latitude as regards concentration of smoke. 3. The age of the plants was not a factor hindering the effect of smoke treatment. 4. From the results obtained in the smoke treatments and ethylene treatments it seems that one or more constituents in smoke and not the temperature produced are responsible for the hastening of bloom. 5. Under the conditions in which smoke treatments were given to field plants, smoke was not toxic. 6. Large-size fruits were obtained following the smoke treatments. 7. The treatment with smoke previous to planting gave no appreciable response. 8. Slips and suckers treated with ethylene previous to planting flowered six months before the control plants. 9. Fruits obtained from ethylene treatments were undersize. Suckers yielded larger fruits than slips. 10. No significant difference was noted with the several concentrations of gas when used on slips and suckers. 11. The results obtained indicate that the ethylene treatment has modified metabolism and induced flower production.