Puwadon Butrat and Arkom Wangmuang

pp. 339 - 345

Abstract

The effects of three different flowering chemicals (CaC₂, ethephon, and NAA) on flowering and fruit
quality of pineapples c.v. Phuket were conducted at Amphoe Talang of Phuket Province, between December
2000 and September 2001. A factorial design in RCB with 2 factors and 3 replications were used. The treatments were CaC₂
 1 g/plant, ethephon 100 mg/l combination with urea 1.5% 60 ml/plant, NAA 0.5 mg
(1 ANAA tablet/plant) and the chemicals were applied by implanting the specific quantities once and twice
into the shoot tips of nine-month-old ground suckers. The results showed that the highest flowering rate of
100% was obtained within 32 days in the treatment of ethephon application, and the havesting date was
around 136-137. Plants applied with ethephon at once gave the best fruit quality, with high fruit firmness,
total soluble solids (TSS), and citric acid. This led to higher profits (baht/rai) than any other remaining
treatments. All of the chemical treatments applied twice caused an increase of abnormal fruits, particularly
with the CaC₂ application, which gave the highest number of defective fruits.